Messi already has Busquets' replacement as a teammate at Inter Miami and he is one of his compatriots

I n Miami they know that the retirement of Sergio Busquets leaves a difficult place to replace, however it seems that they have already found a prospect to aspire to fulfill the function of being the balance of the team in the future.

After a historic 2025 season in which Lionel Messi led Inter Miami to the MLS Cup , the first in the club's history, the management moved quickly to maintain the competitive level. They signed Argentine midfielder David Ayala from Portland Timbers .

Who is David Ayala, Inter Miami's new signing?

At just 23 years of age, Ayala arrives to strengthen the midfield and profile himself as the natural replacement for Sergio Busquets , who retired after winning the championship.

"Inter Miami CF announced today that it has signed Argentine midfielder David Ayala from the Portland Timbers. Ayala joins the club as part of MLS's U22 Initiative and will remain under contract until the end of the 2026 season".

Ayala's characteristics explain why Inter Miami sees him as a strategic piece. He stands out in his ability to distribute the ball, vision of the field, good ball control, characteristics in which Busquets had mastery and doctorate.

The statistics back up that comparison, as while the Spaniard averaged 59.2 completed passes per game, Ayala led the Portland Timbers with 47.2 passes per game, with a remarkable 88% accuracy. These numbers reflect a good reading of the game.

Inter Miami signs another Argentine

Inter Miami has a large number of Argentine players who will facilitate their adaptation. Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul, Gonzalo Lujan, Tomas Aviles, Oscar Ustari, Mateo Silvetti and Facundo Mura are part of the group of Argentines in the team. In addition to Javier Mascherano , and several members of his coaching staff.

This Argentine identity has become one of the hallmarks of the club's sporting project, with Messi as the main focus on and off the pitch.

Inter Miami's reinforcements

Facundo Mura was the first confirmed reinforcement to cover the right flank, following the departure of Marcelo Weigandt to Boca Juniors . Sergio Reguilon also arrived to replace Jordi Alba .

In addition, the club secured the arrival of Canadian goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair , who was named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2025 and is expected to be a key player and dreams of playing in the 2026 World Cup . In defense, Brazilian Micael, who has previous experience in the league and a successful past with the Houston Dynamo , also joined the team. Reinforcements with which the Herons are renewing themselves to seek to continue their dominance in MLS this 2026.