Inter Miami’s Dream Team: How does the salary cap work in MLS?

2023-07-20 18:31:53

A few weeks ago, the Miami Inter confirmed the arrival of the Argentine star, Lionel Messi, which lands in the American team after seeing his return to FC Barcelona frustrated. In addition, upon the arrival of the ex-footballer PSG, it seems that we will have to add those of Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, Andres Iniesta and, the already official, Sergio Busquets.

How is the league structured? USA?

The fact that Americans have a peculiar way of organizing sport and its competitions should not be new to anyone.

First of all, we have to know that MLS is a closed league, which is made up of 29 franchises divided into two conferences: Eastern Conference and Western Conference. This means that, at the start of the season, the teams already know that they will not be able to descend and, consequently, they will be able to plan their season without having to assume the risk that a drop in category entails, both at a sporting level and at an economic level.

The competition format is very similar to what we can see in the NBA. During the regular seasonthe teams compete to be in those positions that give access to the playoffs and, once the qualified teams are determined, they face off against the rest of the qualified franchises in their conference. He The winner of each conference will play the MLS final and the winner of said match will be proclaimed champion of the competition..

Lionel Messi training with his new team.

How does the salary cap work in MLS?

The lsalary cap of the Major League Soccer He has some points that match the salary cap we are used to in European football. However, it enjoys a series of shades that characterize it and make its study tremendously interesting.

He tope salarialas in European football, is a barrier to the salaries that the different teams pay their players, imposed by the league, which cannot be exceeded in any case. For the current seasonthe fixed limit amounts to the amount of $5.2 million. This amount may vary depending on some concepts, such as whether a team has lost a player in the draft or has gone to another league.

The most interesting and relevant within the MLS salary limit can be found in the figure of the franchise player. For the purpose of attract big playersas is currently the case with the media signings made by Inter Miami, The league grants each club the possibility of signing three players whose real salary does not compute for the purposes of the salary limit. Regardless of the salary that the player receives, it will be understood that his salary amounts to $335,000, an amount that will be paid directly by the league, with the club assuming the part that exceeds said amount.

Additionally, it should be noted that if the franchise player age If you are less than 20 years old, your salary will count as if it were $150,000, while if your age is between 21 and 23, it will count as if it were $200,000. This rule allows the MLS clubs have greater flexibility in the market and can more easily undertake this type of transfer.

The franchise player figure arose with the arrival of the current owner of Inter Miami, David Beckham, to the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007, enjoying the honor of becoming the first franchise player in MLS history. The English midfielder came to the American team with a salary of 6.5 million dollars a year, which tripled the existing salary limit that year, which amounted to 2.1 million dollars.

Lionel Messi being presented with Inter Miami.

How can Inter Miami manage the incorporation of so many great players?

As we have said previously, the signings of Lionel Messi y Sergio Busquets, players like Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba o Andres Iniesta. However, Inter Miami will have to carry out a total restructuring of its squad if it wants to be able to undertake all the rumored additions.

Those players who do not have franchise player status may charge a maximum of $651,250 a year and a minimum of $85,444. Therefore, any player who signs for the American team, once the places that do not count for the calculation of the salary limit have been completed, will have to do so in compliance with the stipulations and limitations established by the MLS itself.

Like is logic, Lionel Messi will occupy a franchise player position and, most likely, Sergio Busquets also. Therefore, Inter Miami has a new problem in the figure of its current franchise player, Josef Martinez The group chaired by David Beckham He would have to reduce the contract of his current franchise player to be able to use this position when incorporating a new player for his Dream Team.

For cases like this, MLS created a economic background that, for the purpose of avoid departures of big names from his league, as a consequence of a salary reduction, allows a higher salary to be paid, without taking into account the surplus when quantifying the total salaries of those players that compute for the salary limit. Thanks to this aid, in established cases, salaries of up to 1.6 million dollars can be reached.

It is evident that the fans of the southeast Florida team are tremendously excited about the new team that is being built around the figure of the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi. However, the sports management will have to make a great effort when it comes to making the squad and establishing salaries to achieve the making of that dream team that, according to rumors and the signings already made, could greatly resemble that glorious FC Barcelona of the year 2016.