Inter Miami coach Phil Neville on Sergio Busquets: “We hope he makes the right decision”

The summer transfer dominoes began to fall on Wednesday morning, when FC Barcelona legend and captain Sergio Busquets announced that he is leaving after 18 years with the club.

The news was of particular interest to Inter Miami owners, coaches, players, staff, and fans, as Busquets has been in talks with the MLS club since last year about a possible move to South Florida.

When Inter Miami played a friendly against Barca at DRV PNK Stadium last summer, Busquets said in an interview that he was impressed with Inter Miami’s training facility, was a big MLS fan and had followed the league closely since his former Barcelona teammate David Villa joined New York City FC in 2014.

Lionel Messi, another former teammate of Busquets, has also been in conversations with Inter Miami about a move to the club. The thought of Busquets and Messi playing together in pink jerseys has Miami fans buzzing, but both players are also considering lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia. Another option for Messi is a return to Barcelona.

Messi’s father issued a statement early this week saying contrary to published reports that Messi-to-Saudi Arabia was a done deal, his son had not made any decision about his future. Jorge Messi added that Lionel will not agree to any deal until after his season with Paris Saint-Germain ends in June. Busquets has not offered any hints about his future, either.

Busquets, 34, is considered by many to be the best holding midfielder in the modern era. He spent all 18 years of his career at Barcelona. He amassed 31 trophies over 719 appearances with the club, including three Champions League titles, three FIFA Club World Cups, eight La Liga championships and seven Copa Del Reys.

“Congratulations on an amazing career, to play at one club so long and 31 trophies, that’s incredible,” Inter Miami coach Phil Neville said Thursday, as his team prepared to play at home Saturday against Eastern Conference leader New England Revolution. “The most impressive thing is when people talk about the great players, No. 6s, people automatically think of Sergio Busquets. He’s obviously had a brilliant career at Barcelona and leaving will be the hardest thing he’s ever had to do, to leave the club he’s been at all his life. I’ve witnessed that.

“He’s got a big decision to make, and we hope he makes the right decision.”

Harvey Neville on handling pressure

It is not easy being the coach’s son, especially when the team goes through a six-game losing streak, as it did last month.

Harvey Neville, one of several young players who has taken on a bigger role this season, said it was impossible not to be hurt when his father faced criticism during the slump.

“If I’m being honest, it does affect me,” Harvey said. “I try to not let it affect me, but it’s only natural that when my dad is going through a tough period I go through a tough period, as well. So, it makes you want the team to win a lot more.”

The elder Neville agreed it is “a little weird” navigating issues that arise being Harvey’s coach and father.

“It’s a little more difficult for him, but he’s overcoming that,” Phil Neville said. “We’re a tight family. It’s not as if he lives somewhere on his own and he’s away from it. When you hurt one, you hurt us all. That’s the hard bit. The criticism. The expectation. I’m on the touchline thinking about 11 players, but one of those is my son. I have to block that out.”

Neville provided the cross Tuesday that resulted in Inter Miami’s game-winning lone goal, an own goal by a Charleston Battery defender. Miami won 1-0 and advanced to the Round of 16, where it will face Nashville SC at home on May 23 or 24. “That’s how I meant it to be,” Harvey Neville said, smiling.

Krystsov, Borgelin Injury Update

Inter Miami center back Sergiy Krystsov (calf) is “touch and go, day to day” for Saturday. Forward Shanyder Borgelin got kicked in the ankle in the final minute of Tuesday’s U.S. Open Cup win over Charleston and was in an ankle boot Wednesday, but Neville said he expected him to be ready for Saturday. “He is young and a quick healer,” Neville said. Left back Noah Allen is back from injury just in time, as starter Franco Negri will serve a red card suspension on Saturday.