Inter Miami CF: 2020 Preview – Basement battle ahead?
By Matt Coles
Offseason Summary
Unlike most MLS expansion sides, Inter Miami did not have a previous team, like Minnesota United or FC Cincinnati, two teams that have made the move up to the top flight in recent years, did. Therefore, they have had to bring in every single player for their first season in the league.
So far, 20 players have made the move to Inter Miami CF, with the first two of those having signed for the club in July. The Argentinian pair of Julian Carranza and Matias Pellegrini were announced as the first signings for the expansion side.
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They then also brought in Venezuelan defender Christian Makoun from Zamora in August, before going on a spree this offseason, with 17 more to come through the doors ahead of the start of the campaign.
Five players were taken in the 2019 MLS Expansion Draft, with Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Bryan Meredith brought in, along with two defenders and two midfielders.
Alvas Powell came from FC Cincinnati, while Ben Sweat made the move from New York City FC to help the back line, while Los Angeles FC’s Lee Nguyen and Columbus Crew’s Luis Argudo were also selected.
Since then, the club has been able to bring in some big names, including former New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles, and Houston Dynamo full-back A.J. DeLaGarza.
Victor Ulloa, Jay Chapman and Grant Lillard are some of the other MLS names that have made the move to south Florida for the 2020 campaign.
The club had the first pick in the MLS SuperDraft in January, and they opted for Robbie Robinson, the Clemson forward who is the latest recipient of the Hermann Trophy, awarded to the best player in college soccer.
The Generation Adidas player was one of two early picks for Inter Miami, who had also acquired the No.3 pick from FC Cincinnati. With it, they selected Georgetown defender Dylan Nealis.