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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Neymar linked with MLS move after buying house in Miami</li><li>Tata Martino admitted 'anything can happen' due to Barcelona ties</li><li>Blamed 'strict rules' for difficulty of a potential deal</li></ul><div class="affiliate-button-container theme-1" data-name="Apple TV"><div class="affiliate-button"><img class="logo" height="40" width="72" src="https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/bltcc7a7ffd2fbf71f5/blt2de198b67da95a2e/65709d2436cf7d0407034ef9/Apple_TV.png" style="width: 72;height: 40;">Get the MLS Season Pass today!</div><a href="https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.7000?itsct=goal_mls&amp;itscg=30200&amp;at=1010l39UY" class="affiliate-button-link" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">Stream games now</a></div>

Tata Martino rules potential Neymar to Inter Miami move 'impossible' because of MLS salary cap

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Inter Miami CF

Inter Miami manager Tata Martino discussed the latest Neymar to Inter Miami rumors Friday, admitting an MLS move for Neymar would seem unlikely, highlighting the league's strict salary regulations as the primary reason.The Brazilian forward has been linked with a move to MLS for years, and a r<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/neymar-preparing-lionel-messi-reunion-mls-al-hilal-star-buys-usd26m-property-florida-fuel-inter-miami-transfer-talk/bltb96d998c035ad6cf" target="_blank">ecent purchase of a mansion in Miami</a> fueled speculation that he could be eager to join up with former Barcelona teammates Leo Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets in South Florida. The manager, for his part, was reluctant to link Neymar's real estate acquisition to a deal to play in the U.S. top flight, and also suggested that any transfer business would be a non-starter under league rules.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Miami has repeatedly shown financial leverage to bring big names to South Beach. <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/lionel-messi-tops-mls-salaries-marco-reus-olivier-giroud-league-salaries-mlspa-report/blt8a1aed8778e0d08d" target="_blank">Messi is the highest paid player in the league</a>, making $20.4 million per year. Busquets, his former Blaugrana teammate is third, pulling in $8.8 million. Under league rules, Neymar might be able to sign a similar low-paying deal to Suarez - <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/50m-vs-200k-how-luis-suarez-reunion-lionel-messi-inter-miami-possible-salary-dwarfed-ex-barcelona-team-mate/blt8710ed7e437d5f75" target="_blank">who penned a $200,000 per year deal</a> - but it would be a drastic decrease from the over $80 million annual salary he is set to make for Al-Hilal.MLS Commissioner Don Garber has previously voiced support for MLS's salary cap rules, claiming that they <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/commissioner-don-garber-world-soccer-would-be-in-better-shape-if-it-followed-mls-structure/bltaad81d5ffe47b83e" target="_blank">keep the league in a better position</a> than most European divisions: “In terms of governance, we'd probably change things: maybe not have strict salary caps, maybe not have a centralized entity like the league office making a lot of learned decisions based on committees and the like,” Garber said. “But I think we have a model that has driven our success, and I think if that model was adapted around the world, football would be in much, much better shape.”One way in which Miami could make the deal work is if Neymar is willing to accept a similar pay structure to Suarez and Alba - he could be paid using Miami's remaining general allocation money - earning him a maximum of roughly $1.7 million per year.Or, it can get complicated. The Herons could make Neymar their third designated player - someone whose salary is exempt from certain salary limits - and offer him more money. However, that would mean shifting their financial structure, and would force them to sell off one of their earmarked U-22 initiative players to comply with league rules - effectively getting rid of a valuable rotation piece to account for a new star man.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Martino <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/42130640/inter-miami-gerardo-martino-dismisses-neymar-transfer-links" target="_self">quashed rumors</a> that a Neymar deal would be financially possible, saying is a news conference, "With [Messi] and the boys already here, anything that can happen. What I can't imagine is if the league doesn't make the salary issue more flexible, how it would be carried out. After writing it or saying it in the media it's all good, nothing happens, it doesn't have any consequences, but what would the implementation be like? And the reality is that if there is something that the MLS has, it is that the rules are strict and can't be broken, unless the MLS decides to change."He also laughed off the suggestion that Neymar's new property could indicate transfer activity: "I arrived in Barcelona at the same time as [Neymar]. It was a good year and for me being able to coach such high-ranking players will always be a very special memory. The truth is that one cannot talk so easily and freely about whether a player could come or not. It seems to me that when we talk about this, another type of support is needed. We cannot talk or mention a player because he bought a house here or has a girlfriend from Fort Lauderdale."

WHAT MARTINO SAID

It would seem that a deal for the Brazilian is unlikely, unless there is an update to the salary structure in MLS. On the pitch, the Herons' focus is on their playoff fixture with Atlanta United Saturday evening. A win there could see the club sweep the best of three series and set up a clash with the winner of Orlando City and Charlotte's matchup.

WHAT NEXT FOR NEYMAR AND INTER MIAMI?

Tata Martino rules Neymar Inter Miami move 'impossible' because of MLS salary cap | Goal.com

The Inter Miami manager highlighted the league&apos;s financial regulations as a reason why his side can&apos;t sign Neymar 

Tata Martino rules potential Neymar to Inter Miami move &apos;impossible&apos; because of MLS salary cap

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