Lionel Messi has successfully recruited three of his former Barcelona teammates to join him at Inter Miami, but that may not be enough for the Argentine in his quest to win the MLS Cup.
Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suárez have agreed to play the 2024 season with the Herons, and Messi's plans have seen the Argentine ace trying to lure one more of his former teammates to Miami. The only difference is that this former teammate never played with Messi at Camp Nou; he did it with the Argentine National Team.
A report by Argentine radio statiom Continental 590 AM stated that Messi contacted former Manchester United player Marcos Rojo to join him in the MLS. The former Red Devil has been playing for Boca Juniors since 2020, and was recently part of the team that lost the Copa Libertadores final against Fluminense.
Rojo, who played 61 games for Argentina, was also part of the team that lost two Copa América finals under coach Gerardo Martino in 2015 and 2016. The report in the Argentine radio station added that Martino also called Rojo to try and convince him to join Inter Miami this winter.
Formerly a left-back, Rojo has adapted to the center back position since he joined Boca, a spot Inter Miami are trying to fill. The Herons struggled in defense last season, which is why Rojo's help could come in handy for the Florida-based side.
Even if Rojo is interested in joining Inter Miami, the negotiation will not be an easy task for the MLS club. The footballer signed a contract extension with Boca Juniors until 2025, meaning that the 2023 Leagues Cup winners will need to pay for Rojo's transfer fee, which was not the case with Busquets, Alba, or Suárez.
The 2024 MLS season will kick off on February 21 with a game between Inter Miami and Real Salt Lake. Messi is expected to lead the Herons to a win, now that Suárez and his other former teammates enjoy the benefits of a long rest and a full preseason. Will Rojo join them before then? We will have to wait and see.
