Inter Miami will reportedly sign FC Barcelona defender Jordi Alba on a non-Designated Player contract, with Sergio Busquets expected to take the third DP slot.
According to the Athletic, the Spanish left-back will not be on a DP contract when Alba officially joins Inter Miami this week, with the defender’s international teammate Busquets to earn over the MLS salary cap, with Lionel Messi set to become the league’s highest-ever earner.
As per the report, the Argentine superstar will earn between $50m to $60m, making Messi the best-paid soccer player in US history and one of the highest-paid athletes in America without considering sponsorships, with Alba set to be on a contract within the cap.
Findings from Salary Sport show that the 34-year-old Barcelona icon earned close to $12m a year at the Catalan giants last season, meaning Alba will be taking a significant pay-cut to join Messi and Busquets in Florida at Inter Miami.
Indeed, MLS has seen its fair share of superstar names initially join the league on non-DP contracts, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic famously signing for the LA Galaxy on a Target Allocation Money deal, with Alba now the latest figure to make a similar decision this summer.
Inter Miami signing Alba on a non-DP contract is impressive work
Inter Miami have overhauled their squad as drastically as MLS rules will allow this summer, and although it won’t lead to a championship this year, signing the likes of Alba on non-DP deals is something that has to be applauded from critics and fans.
After all, the veteran defender is still one of the standout fullbacks in world soccer, and with Alba now taking his qualities to MLS with Inter Miami for a pay-cut, the left-back could be instrumental in Tata Martino building another legacy in America.
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