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USA Soccer Icon Makes Bold Neymar to Inter Miami Claim

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Manuel Meza Cienfuegos | Last updated Nov 20, 2025 4:28 PM ET

Former U.S. men's national soccer team player Brad Friedel spoke with Hard Rock Bet about the possibility of Inter Miami bringing Lionel Messi and Neymar together in Major League Soccer.

Neymar, 33, has his contract with Santos FC ending on Dec. 31, 2025, and will be free to negotiate a deal with any interested club.

According to Sport, the former Paris Saint-Germain star no longer has interest from European clubs, but Inter Miami "would love" to sign him.

"The pink club has two Designated Player spots free for 2026, and they would love for one of them to be occupied by Neymar," wrote Joaquim Piera in the Spanish outlet.

On the matter, Friedel sent a clear warning to The Herons, in case they indeed move forward to complete the signing of the Brazilian.

USMNT Icon Brad Friedel Warns Inter Miami Over Potential Neymar Move

The former Liverpool player noted that everything would depend on how Inter Miami structures Neymar's contract, but that, regardless, it will be a risk.

"I think it would be a risk on anyone's behalf," Friedel said. "I think it just depends on how you would structure the contract. You also have to weigh the pros and cons."

"When you sign legends of the game like Neymar, you also have to take into account the commercial opportunities that go with it, and it coincides nearly every time with the salary and wage packet that you are going to give."

"You are going to make a substantial amount of money off the field when you bring someone like that in," he added. "I think there is probably more of a sporting risk than a commercial risk, or equally so if he does get injured. But if he doesn't get injured, the risk becomes his age and the injuries he has had, and whether he can be that player [they need]."

The Brazilian has a similar profile to Messi, 38, and while it's clearly not impossible to make them play together, as we saw at both Barcelona and Paris, with the age and limited physical explosiveness of both, it does not seem to be a necessary signing for The Herons.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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