Manchester City's midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne might soon be teaming up with Lionel Messi in sunny Florida. Reports say Inter Miami has snagged De Bruyne's discovery rights, giving them first dibs on signing the Belgian star if he decides to head to Major League Soccer.
Inter Miami hasn't made any official comment yet. But fans are already buzzing about the possibility of seeing Messi and De Bruyne playing together for the first time.
In MLS, the discovery list system allows each team to tag up to five players they're interested in. This gives them exclusive negotiation rights if those players want to join the league. San Diego FC previously held De Bruyne's rights but reportedly dropped him earlier this year.
Financial Hurdles in the Way
Landing De Bruyne would be huge for Miami, but the money side is tricky. De Bruyne pockets about $25 million yearly at Man City. That's even more than Messi's reported $20 million MLS salary!
If the deal happens, De Bruyne would certainly become a Designated Player (DP). This special status allows clubs to exceed the $740,000 salary cap for star players. Miami already has three DPs in Messi, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets.
This means some roster reshuffling would be needed to make room. Any changes could significantly impact Miami's playing style and their odds as title favorites next season.
A Historic Partnership on the Horizon?
De Bruyne is apparently weighing his options after dominating with Manchester City for a decade. He hasn't ruled out staying in England or moving to Saudi Arabia. But the chance to play alongside Messi might be too good to pass up.
Remarkably, these two superstars have never been teammates. They've faced off several times in Champions League battles, but sharing a locker room would be a first.
For MLS betting enthusiasts, this potential move is worth watching closely. A Messi-De Bruyne partnership would make Inter Miami even stronger favorites for the MLS Cup.
The creative chemistry between these two could produce some of the most exciting soccer ever seen in MLS. De Bruyne's pinpoint passing combined with Messi's magical finishing would be a nightmare for opposing defenses.
While nothing is confirmed yet, this transfer speculation has already caused a stir among oddsmakers. Some bookies have adjusted their long-term markets, shortening Miami's championship odds in anticipation of this blockbuster move.
