Inter Miami lineup with Lionel Messi: How starting 11 might look with Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba

As Lionel Messi gets set to play his first matches with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer and the Leagues Cup, the team will quickly need to find his best position in the lineup.

However, Messi won't be the only one linking up for the stretch run of the season, as the likes of Sergio Busquets and reportedly Jordi Alba should also be on their way.

With so many new additions and just a few months remaining in the MLS season, it will be interesting to see how new manager Gerardo 'Tata' Martino goes about working those three players (plus any others that join) into the lineup.

Given their age and the stage of their careers, there will still be minutes for the rest of the squad as Messi, Busquets, and Alba will need their minutes managed. But the team will look to play them whenever possible with the opportunity to win silverware in their first season and perhaps even make a run at the MLS playoffs.

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Inter Miami lineup with Lionel Messi and other stars

Obviously, Lionel Messi slides straight in to the Inter Miami starting lineup, as would former Barcelona stars Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. Those players would also certainly have their minutes managed given their age and the compressed nature of the calendar, but you don't sign them to sit them on the bench.

Forwards

Up front alongside Messi in the attack there will certainly be versatile Venezuelan forward Josef Martinez who has finally started to settle in at Inter Miami with three goals through a four-game stretch in June and July.

Messi's Argentine compatriot Nicolas Stefanelli could occupy the other wing position if the team opts to play with two wingers. 

Sí, Muchachos📍 pic.twitter.com/8E3f9hb9VU

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) July 15, 2023

The team could also play with two center-forwards with Messi in behind. Martinez would be paired up with Ecuadorean international Leonardo Campana, who was supposed to be the long-term solution as the central striker. Campana was brought over from the Premier League in January 2023 to be the team's goal scorer, but he has struggled in his second MLS season.

Attacking midfielder and academy product Benja Cremaschi would likely be groomed to be Messi's substitute and occupy his slot when Messi has played his minutes. When healthy, Robbie Robinson is the backup to Josef and Campana.

The depth chart would look different if French winger Corentin Jean (ACL injury) was available.

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Midfield

In midfield, Busquets will take over alongside Ecuadorean defensive midfielder Dixon Arroyo, with local teenager David Ruiz dropping to the bench. 

When back from injury, Brazilian midfielders Gregore (foot fracture) and Jean Mota (LCL) would bring even more quality alongside Busquets.

Young Jamaican native Ian Fray, who has played multiple positions for the club, is also a natural defensive midfielder.

Defenders

Canadian international Kamal Miller and Ukrainian veteran Sergiy Kryvtsov are the likely starting center-backs when both are available, with Christopher McVey inserted as the third center-back when called upon.

If they need to dig deeper into the defensive depth chart, American Ryan Sailor is the fourth choice.

DeAndre Yedlin (right) and Jordi Alba (left) can play as wing-backs in the 3-4-3 formation typically preferred by Tata Martino, but they would probably be more comfortable should Martino opt for a traditional back four.

Inter Miami projected starting lineup (3-4-3): Drake Callender (GK) — Christopher McVey, Sergiy Kryvtsov, Kamal Miller — DeAndre Yedlin, Arroyo, Sergio Busquets, Alba — Messi, Campana, J. Martinez.

Inter Miami projected subs (10): C.J. Dos Santos (GK), Ryan Sailor, Noah Allen, Ian Fray, Benja Cremaschi, David Ruiz, Robert Taylor, Edison Azcona, Robbie Robinson, Nicolas Stefanelli.

Inter Miami remaining squad: Nick Marsman (GK), Cole Jensen (GK), Franco Negri (ACL injury), Israel Boatwright, Harvey Neville, Gregore (foot fracture), Jean Mota (LCL injury), Victor Ulloa, Lawson Sunderland, Shanyder Borgelin, Jake LaCava (on loan).

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Inter Miami key injuries that impact lineup

The most damaging injury to the Inter Miami side this year has been to Brazilian midfielder Gregore, who broke his foot early in the season and is likely out for the entire campaign.

Gregore is a vitally important part of the team, and serves as Inter Miami captain when available. His loss has forced the team to piece together the midfield setup alongside Dixon Arroyo, with teenager David Ruiz earning more time than anticipated.

The midfield took a further hit with a serious knee injury to another Brazilian, Jean Mota. The 29-year-old has been missing since late April, having delivered three assists through the first 10 matches of the season, playing in all but three minutes to that point.

Also surely done for the year is French striker Corentin Jean who suffered a torn ACL against New England in mid-June. He was playing significant minutes up front until his injury, but had only scored one goal so far this season.

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Players to leave Inter Miami as Lionel Messi joins

With Lionel Messi and other big-name stars joining, there will be corresponding roster moves that must be made. The Inter Miami squad is already bursting at the seams, and with the strict and convoluted roster regulations in MLS, some will have to depart.

Messi and others will need to be registered as Designated Players (players who can be paid above and beyond the salary budget imposed by the league on every club), and only three of those designations are available to each MLS team. 

Inter Miami's Designated Players (3)

1. Lionel Messi
2. Leonardo Campana (remains as DP)
3. Rodolfo Pizarro (likely to exit club to make room for Sergio Busquets)

They've already made room for Messi and established him as a DP, having removed Gregore's designation as part of a contract restructuring. If Jordi Alba joins, he will not be a DP, having seen his contract paid down by using the Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) cash fund mechanism.

Yet room will need to be made for Sergio Busquets, who will be designated as a DP. The most likely candidate to leave is Rodolfo Pizarro, who joined back in 2020 as part of the club's inaugural roster, but he has been poor during his time in MLS, especially this season where he sits on a single goal so far in MLS action and just one assist.

The other DP is Leonardo Campana, who is just 22 years old and is a big part of the club's future plans.

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Inter Miami squad list

Note: The roster does not include Jordi Alba, pending confirmation.