Tata Martino addressed the Neymar-to-Inter Miami rumors Friday morning, as his team prepared to travel for Saturday’s playoff game against Atlanta United.

Speculation that the Brazilian superstar might someday join former Barcelona teammates Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba intensified this week after Neymar bought a $26 million waterfront property in Bal Harbour. Neymar’s contract with Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal expires in June 2025.

Neymar likes to vacation in South Florida. He has been spotted courtside at Miami Heat games several times. He attended the Miami Open with Heat star Jimmy Butler last spring, threw out the ceremonial first pitch on Marlins 2024 opening day and was photographed at dinner with Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham in late-March.

When a reporter asked Martino about his experience coaching Neymar at Barcelona, Martino jokingly asked why a question about Neymar would come up at this time. Reminded of media reports that the Brazilian was building a home in the Miami area, Martino said: “Oh, so everyone who buys a house in Miami is going to play for us? They’ll have to shut down the real estate market.”

The coach drew a big laugh with his answer.

He then continued: “My start at Barcelona coincided with Ney’s. It was a good year. To be able to coach players of that caliber always will be a special memory.”

Asked if he could imagine the five former Barca players together on Inter Miami’s roster, Martino replied: “With Leo [Messi] already here and the rest of the guys, anything is possible. What I can’t imagine is if the league doesn’t make the salary rules more flexible, how would something like this go forward.

“It’s one thing to write about it and talk about it in the media, that’s fine and there is no consequence, but in reality, how would it happen? Nobody explains that. MLS has strict rules, we can’t break them, unless they decide to change the rules.”

He was then asked, salary rules aside, whether he would prefer to have Neymar or Argentine star Angel DiMaria, who has also been linked with a Miami move.

“At this point it’s just throwing names out there to throw names,” Martino said. “We can’t speak so easily about players who could come or not. When we talk about that, it should be more substantive. We can’t mention players just because they bought a house in Miami or have a girlfriend in Fort Lauderdale. It’s crazy.

“First, we need to analyze what the league can offer and if it’s possible; and based on that, today it is impossible.”

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