Speculation surrounding a potential move for Mohamed Salah to Inter Miami CF has intensified in recent weeks, with reports suggesting the Egyptian forward could join forces with Lionel Messi. However, league regulations appear to make such a transfer impossible under current rules.
The rumours gained traction following Salah’s announcement that he will leave Liverpool FC at the end of the 2025–2026 season, bringing an end to a highly successful spell that began in 2017. Since then, the Egypt captain has been linked with several clubs worldwide, including a potential switch to Major League Soccer.
While the idea of Salah joining Messi in the United States has captured attention, financial constraints imposed by Major League Soccer regulations present a significant barrier.
Salary cap system limits transfer possibilities
MLS operates under a strict salary cap structure designed to maintain competitive balance across the league. Each club is allocated a fixed budget for player wages, which cannot be exceeded. For the 2025 season, this limit was set at approximately $6 million per club.
To accommodate high-profile signings, MLS introduced the Designated Player rule in 2007, allowing clubs to register up to three players whose wages fall outside the standard salary cap. This mechanism has enabled teams to recruit globally recognised stars over the years.
Under this rule, clubs can offer significantly higher salaries to these designated players without breaching financial restrictions. Inter Miami, for example, reportedly spends more than $15 million annually on Messi alone—far exceeding the total salary cap applied to the rest of the squad.
No available slot for Salah
Inter Miami currently occupies all three of its designated player slots, with Messi joined by Rodrigo De Paul and Bertramy. As a result, there is no immediate room to accommodate Salah within the existing framework.
Given Salah’s high wage demands, signing him outside the designated player category would not be feasible under the league’s financial regulations. This effectively rules out the possibility of him joining the Florida-based club unless structural changes occur.
Limited alternatives under current rules
Two theoretical solutions have been identified, though both appear unlikely in the short term. The first would involve Inter Miami freeing up a designated player slot by releasing or transferring one of its current high-profile players. However, reports suggest the club views both De Paul and Bertramy as key long-term assets and has no intention of parting ways with them.
The second option would require MLS to amend its rules to allow a fourth designated player per team. While there have been discussions about evolving the league’s financial model, such a change is not expected in the near future.
Messi himself has previously voiced concerns over the restrictions imposed by the system. In a 2025 interview, he said: “American league clubs are unable to make the deals they want because of this law. It must be amended to attract more stars. I think the competition can develop, but first, serious steps must be taken from a legal standpoint.”
Future remains uncertain
Despite the growing interest in Salah’s next destination, a move to Inter Miami currently appears unrealistic. Unless MLS regulations are revised or roster adjustments are made, the prospect of Salah and Messi playing together will remain out of reach.
For now, the idea of the two global stars sharing the same pitch in club football remains an intriguing possibility—one constrained not by ambition, but by regulation.
