Inter Miami head coach Gerardo Martino has addressed the rumors linking Neymar to the club, insisting that it is currently impossible to negotiate a deal given MLS’ roster and salary restrictions.

Neymar, who has a contract with Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal until the summer of 2025, has been linked to Miami since the club signed his former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets last year.

“If (Messi) and the boys are already here, anything can happen. What I can’t imagine is how it would be implemented if the league doesn’t make the salary issue more flexible,” Martino, who previously coached Neymar in Barcelona, ​​told reporters on Friday.

“After writing it or saying it in the media, everything is fine, nothing happens, there are no consequences, but what would the implementation look like? And the reality is, if the MLS has something, this is it. The rules are strict and cannot be broken unless the MLS decides to change them.

Speculation increased earlier this week after it was reported that Neymar had bought a waterfront property in Miami, but Martino said it was ridiculous to link a player to a team based on real estate.

“Everyone who buys a house here will come to play? Ha! I came to Barcelona at the same time as (Neymar). “It was a good year and for me it will always be special to be able to coach such high-ranking players.” a very special memory,” he said.

“The truth is that you can’t talk so easily and freely about whether a player could come or not. It seems to me that when we talk about it, a different kind of support is needed. We can’t talk about or mention a player because he bought a house here or has a girlfriend from Fort Lauderdale.

“This is nonsense, you have to use force to speak,” he said. “First you have to analyze what the league offers and whether that is really possible. From this basis it is impossible today, so there is no longer any continuity in this conversation.”

Instead, Martino turned the focus to the team’s upcoming playoff game against Atlanta United on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Miami must win to advance to the conference semifinals. A loss for Miami would send this best-of-three first-round series to a third and deciding game on November 9 at Chase Stadium.

Inter Miami may be without Busquets for Saturday’s game after Martino confirmed he remains ill and is being examined daily. Although the midfielder played an important role in Friday’s 2-1 win over Atlanta, he did not practice before the second game.

“No, he hasn’t trained yet. He is still sick, every day. We will see today if he is available for tomorrow’s game,” Martino said.

Aside from Busquets, David Ruiz and the recently injured Ian Fray, the rest of the team is healthy for Saturday’s game.