MLS confirm Inter Miami broke rules to sign Blaise Matuidi

MLS have confirmed that Inter Miami broke the league's spending rules to sign Juventus midfielder Blaise Matuidi last summer.

American top-flight rules dictate that each club is permitted to have only three players classified as designed players on their roster at one time.

A designated player is defined as an individual not subject to a salary cap - a rule introduced in 2007 to permit the arrival of David Beckham, who ironically now finds himself in hot water for not obeying said rule as the Inter Miami co-owner.

The remainder of the squad are classed as TAM players (targeted allocation money) and a salary cap must be worked within when negotiating deals.

It's now been revealed that Matuidi - whose wage is above the permitted threshold and so is classed as a designated player - was registered as a TAM player, meaning Inter Miami have broken MLS' spending rules.

A statement released by the league confirmed the club had failed to obey the regulations and disciplinary action is expected to be taken.

"Matuidi's compensation was above the compensation limit for a TAM player and he should have been classified as a designated player," the statement read (via BBC Sport).

"As a result, Inter Miami CF violated the designated player limit as the team had three designated players in addition to Matuidi during 2020."

Following the revelation, Inter Miami have now been forced to ship one of their four designated players out of the club. Argentine midfielder Matias Pellegrini is the man sacrificed, joining Fort Lauderdale - Miami's USL League One club - on a temporary deal until the end of the season.

Matuidi is subsequently eligible to take part in the 2021 MLS campaign, joining former Juventus teammate Gonzalo Higuain and Mexican midfielder Rodolfo Pizarro in Inter Miami's allowance of designated players.