Inter Miami has decided to terminate Nick Marsman’s contract following his critical comments regarding the club’s signing of Lionel Messi.
The decision to part ways with the goalkeeper was made by club owner David Beckham after Marsman expressed the opinion that the team was ‘not ready’ for Messi’s presence.
Prior to the formal arrival of the seven-time Ballon d’Or awardee at the MLS side, Marsman had delivered a scathing evaluation of the situation.
“I personally think that this club is not ready for Messi’s arrival,” he said back in June.
“We have a temporary stadium, people can just walk on the pitch, there are no gates.
“We also leave for the stadium without security. I think they aren’t ready.”
Nick Marsman, the 32-year-old Dutch goalkeeper, is no longer under contract with Inter Miami as the club has opted to buy out his agreement.
Inter Miami utilized a provision in the MLS regulations that permits each team to nullify one contract during the season. Consequently, club owner David Beckham has exercised this option on the former Feyenoord player, rendering Marsman a free agent.
A club statement reads: “Inter Miami CF announced today that it has exercised its Salary Budget Charge buyout on goalkeeper Nick Marsman’s Major League Soccer (MLS) contract.”
Marsman signed for Inter Miami in April 2021 and played 32 games for the club before his release.
Messi, meanwhile, continued his prolific start to his Inter Miami career as he bagged a brace in his side’s victory over FC Dallas.
He scored two goals in the thrilling 4-4 draw on Sunday, before converting a spot-kick in the 5-3 penalty shootout victory.
Messi has starred in the Leagues Cup, with Inter Miami in the quarter-finals of the competition.