Spanish left-back Jordi Alba, 34, has signed up for a season with Inter Miami, where he will reunite with former FC Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets, the MLS club confirmed on Thursday. The agreement includes an option for an additional season, specifies the Florida franchise, whose owner Jorge Mas announced the arrival of Alba two days ago.
At Inter Miami, the former Spanish international (93 caps), without a club since the end of his contract at Barça in June, will complete the contingent of former Blaugranas who arrived this summer: world champion and seven-time Ballon d’Or Lionel Messi, midfielder Sergio Busquets and Gerardo Tata Martino, former coach of the Catalan club.
“Jordi is an accomplished, dynamic and experienced player who we are delighted to welcome on board to continue to strengthen our squad,” said Chris Henderson, Inter’s sporting director. “He has proven for more than a decade that he is one of the best full-backs in the world thanks to his defensive solidity and his attacking qualities,” he added.
Crowned six times in the Spanish championship with Barça, Alba also participated in the conquest of the Champions League in 2015. With La Roja, the defender won the Euro in 2012. Argentinian Lionel Messi and Spaniard Sergio Busquets, who trained for the first time this week with their new training, could make their debut on Friday against Mexican team Cruz Azul.
The club’s co-owner, former glory David Beckham, said on Tuesday that Messi would play “part of the game”, while Tata Martino hinted on Thursday that he could start on the bench.
Just like Busquets, also present at the press conference, who felt that he “needs time to adapt”: “It will be practically impossible for me to play 90 minutes tomorrow (Friday).”
