Three players Inter Miami must consider as answers to life after Alba and Busquets | OneFootball

Inter Miami will enter the 2026 MLS season in unfamiliar territory, not only as reigning champions, but as a club transitioning away from two of the most influential players in its short history. The retirements of Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets mark the end of an era that helped define Miami’s rise from expansion curiosity to league standard-bearer.

For Inter Miami’s front office, the task is clear but complex: replace two players who were central not just tactically, but culturally and structurally — particularly in how the team functioned around Lionel Messi.

The club is not expected to pursue direct replicas of Alba or Busquets. Instead, league sources and roster-building trends suggest Miami will prioritise positional replacements, players capable of restoring balance and function while fitting the physical and financial realities of MLS in 2026.

Here are three players Inter Miami must realistically consider as part of that transition.

Sergio Reguilón – A reported option at Left Back

Tottenham Hotspur FC v Newcastle United FC - Premier League | Mark Leech/Offside/GettyImages

With Jordi Alba retired, left back is the most obvious positional vacancy in the starting XI. During Miami’s title-winning run, Alba’s role evolved from attacking outlet to situational contributor, with minutes carefully managed.

That reality informed Miami’s thinking even before his retirement. Sergio Reguilón has emerged as a name consistently linked to Inter Miami in recent reporting. The Spanish left back, formerly of Real Madrid and Tottenham, fits a profile Miami has shown interest in: European-trained, still in his athletic prime, and available outside the elite salary tier.

From a tactical standpoint, Reguilón would not be asked to replicate Alba’s historic chemistry with Messi. Instead, Miami’s staff is believed to value his ability to:

Those traits align with how Miami’s system evolved late in the championship season, when defensive stability increasingly took priority over constant overlapping runs.

In MLS, where quick counters and wide isolation are common, a more athletic fullback could offer greater week-to-week reliability. Internally, Miami is also expected to continue developing younger options at the position, but Reguilón represents the most “plug-and-play” solution for a club looking to defend a title.

Rodrigo De Paul – A known Messi ally in midfield

Replacing Sergio Busquets is an entirely challenging task. Busquets was not just Miami’s holding midfielder; he was its positional anchor, tempo controller, and on-field reference point. His retirement opens a Designated Player slot and forces a philosophical decision about how Miami wants to control matches in 2026.

De Paul’s brief loan spell during Inter Miami’s title run also informed the club’s long-term planning. While not a permanent solution, his mobility, defensive work rate, and familiarity with Lionel Messi provided a glimpse of how a more dynamic midfield profile could function in MLS, offering a contrast to Sergio Busquets’ positional control and signalling a potential shift in approach for 2026.

Those qualities matter in a league where midfield duels often determine playoff outcomes. During Miami’s title run, Busquets’ minutes were increasingly protected in high-tempo matches. A more mobile midfielder like De Paul could allow Miami to absorb pressure more effectively over a long season. From a roster-building perspective, DePaul also fits the profile of a player who could immediately lead a midfield without requiring extensive adaptation time.

Leandro Paredes – A stabilizing option at the base of midfield

Leandro Paredes of Boca Juniors in action during a Torneo... | SOPA Images/GettyImages

While De Paul represents energy and verticality, Leandro Paredes represents control.

Among the midfielders frequently mentioned as potential MLS candidates, Paredes stands out as one of the few with experience operating as a deep distributor at the highest level. He is familiar with Messi, understands positional play, and is comfortable receiving the ball under pressure.

For Inter Miami, Paredes would not be expected to replicate Busquets’ defensive anticipation. Instead, his value would lie in:

In matches where Miami needs to slow the game — particularly at home or in knockout rounds — that profile remains valuable. Pairing Paredes with a more mobile partner would allow Miami to balance control with coverage, rather than relying on a single pivot.

Sources around the league note that Miami’s technical staff is aware of the difficulty in replacing Busquets and is more likely to pursue complementary midfield pieces rather than a single centrepiece.

A title defense built on adaptation

Inter Miami’s 2026 season will test the club’s ability to evolve. Alba and Busquets were foundational figures, but MLS history suggests that defending champions succeed by adapting rather than clinging to past formulas. Messi remains central to that process. The players around him must understand his game, protect his energy, and allow Miami to stay competitive across multiple competitions.

Reguilón, De Paul, and Paredes represent three different answers to that challenge — not as nostalgic replacements, but as functional successors. For a club entering 2026 with a championship to defend, the goal is no longer transformation. It is continuity with adjustment. And in MLS, that balance often defines champions long after the confetti settles.