Negotiations for Sergio Busquets to join Lionel Messi at Inter Miami are progressing positively, with sources indicating that there is now a “70% chance” of the Barcelona midfielder joining the MLS team.
Busquets, who is 34 years old, is nearing the end of his contract with Barcelona, which expires at the end of June.
After announcing that he will not be extending his contract, he has been considering offers from clubs around the world.
Two clubs in Saudi Arabia, Al Nassr and Al Hilal, have presented the most substantial proposals, according to sources cited by ESPN.
These offers initially raised doubts within Busquets’ camp about a potential move to Miami.
However, following a series of positive conversations with the hierarchy at Inter Miami, who are part-owned by David Beckham, a move to South Florida and a reunion with Messi is edging closer.
Sources say a deal is still not 100% done, with the two Saudi clubs reluctant to give up on Busquets, but a final decision is expected soon.
Busquets’ camp expect to field the final offers from Al Nassr and Al Hilal on Friday as they try to convince the former Spain international to join the influx of players moving to the Middle East.
ESPN first revealed in January that Al Nassr, who signed Cristiano Ronaldo last year, had made a move to sign Busquets as a free agent.
The initial offer six months ago was worth around €13 million ($14.1m) net but sources have told ESPN that figure has “significantly increased” since then.
Sources added that Busquets will earn much less in Miami than he could in Saudi Arabia, but his family have always been more keen on a move to the United States. The player has previously spoken of his desire to end his career in the U.S. too.
Playing alongside Messi again — the two spent 13 years as teammates in Barca’s first team — is also a draw, although sources say Messi has remained in the background and not been involved in Busquets’ decision or Miami’s push for the midfielder.
The two remain close friends off the pitch and dined together just a few weeks ago in Barcelona along with Spain left-back Jordi Alba, who is also drawing interest from Miami following the announcement he will leave Barca this summer.