Former Real Madrid defender Sergio Reguilon has opened up about his move to Inter Miami. The Spanish left-back signed a deal running until 2027, with an option for another year. And he's not shy about one major factor in his decision – the chance to play alongside Lionel Messi.
"I won't lie - coming here to play with Leo is an extra motivation," Reguilon told Inter Miami's media team. It's hard to blame him – who wouldn't want to share a dressing room with arguably the greatest player ever?
But Messi isn't the only thing drawing Reguilon to Florida. The defender seems genuinely impressed with the club's recent success and direction.
"It's a very ambitious project. It's a club that's doing things very well," he explained. "They're the current champions, and that's what attracts me - winning teams."
Fresh Start After Difficult Period
Reguilon had been without a club since his Tottenham contract expired in June 2025. Despite having multiple offers, he waited for the right opportunity – and Inter Miami ticked all the boxes.
"I'm really eager to get started, because I'm coming off a few difficult months," the Spaniard admitted. "All I want is to compete on the field, give my best, and be happy on the pitch."
His timing is interesting from a team perspective. Jordi Alba, another Spanish left-back, recently announced his retirement from football after the 2025 MLS season. This creates a perfect opening for Reguilon to step into a starting role.
Messi himself highlighted Alba's importance after the retirement announcement, saying: "Who is going to give me those passes from behind now?" Well, it seems Reguilon will get his chance to answer that question.
MLS Growing in Stature
Reguilon also shared his thoughts on joining MLS, a league gaining more respect globally. "In Spain, I have many friends who follow it, and honestly, it's a league that's on the rise and doing things very well," he noted.
"In terms of exposure, it keeps growing. It's becoming more competitive, and that's also what draws me to it."
For bettors, this transfer signals Inter Miami's commitment to maintaining their championship form. Replacing the retiring Alba with a player of Reguilon's caliber – a former Real Madrid defender with Premier League experience – suggests they'll remain strong favorites in most MLS matchups.
The Spanish defender joins an Inter Miami squad that has been systematically adding quality and experience. With Messi, Luis Suarez, and now Reguilon on their roster, the Florida club looks set to continue as a dominant force in American soccer.
Inter Miami fans will hope Reguilon can quickly adapt to MLS and form the same kind of productive partnership with Messi that Alba enjoyed for so many years at Barcelona and in Miami.
