JUST IN: Miami Head Coach Tata Martino Responds to Fans’ Hopes of Acquiring Neymar
For MLS fans, the idea of Neymar dazzling audiences in the U.S. feels closer than ever to becoming a reality. After all, he recently purchased a home in Miami, and his stint with Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia doesn’t exactly seem permanent. However, Inter Miami’s coach Tata Martino has introduced a dose of realism. Speaking candidly, he made it clear that bringing Neymar to MLS with his current salary is far from feasible.
Martino was straightforward in a recent interview, explaining the main obstacle: MLS’s strict financial rules. For Neymar to join Inter Miami or any MLS team, it would require a significant financial overhaul—essentially a major pay cut. Martino even mentioned Luis Suárez as an example, highlighting how Suárez accepted a much lower salary to play in the U.S. But would Neymar be willing to make that same sacrifice?
Currently, Neymar earns about €80 million annually with Al-Hilal, an amount MLS simply can’t accommodate, even with the “Designated Player Rule.” Introduced in 2007 to allow the signing of top talents like David Beckham, this rule lets each team sign up to three players outside the salary cap. While it theoretically allows Neymar to join as one of these three players, MLS likely wouldn’t approve a salary close to €80 million. The league prioritizes balance and sustainability, values that clash with the enormous salaries typical in global soccer.
Unless MLS decides to modify its rules for a marquee signing, Neymar would face a tough decision: accept a pay cut to join MLS or continue in leagues that can afford his high earnings. Ultimately, MLS is structured around the North American sports model, which values team parity and financial prudence over superstar spending, unlike the more extravagant approaches seen in Europe and the Middle East.