Inter Miami mean business with Leandro Gonzalez Pirez addition
Inter Miami are set to sign centre-back Leandro Gonzalez Pirez this summer. The deal shows that the expansion side mean business as they look to build a competitive team from the get-go.
The expectation level of the expansion club has changed. In years gone by, it was hoped that they might steadily establish themselves in Major League Soccer, earning their stripes in the early years before later developing into a competitive team as they garnered support, built a fanbase, and gained a foothold in their market and the league more generally.
Now, however, it is very different. The Seattle Sounders were competitive from the moment they took to the pitch, immediately ranking high for attendance records. They have never failed to make the playoffs. Atlanta United have won the MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup in their three years of existence. Los Angeles FC won the Supporters’ Shield and produced the best season in MLS history in just their second year.
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Now it is the turn of Inter Miami CF, who have entered MLS with the intention of being competitive from day one. They have invested heavily in their facilities and squad, hired an astute, well-renowned manager, and added elite-level quality that can compete and shine in MLS. But they are not stopping there.
Per Paul Tenorio and The Athletic, Miami are set to sign centre-back, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, from Tijuana, just six months after he left Atlanta. Gonzalez Pirez had been a crucial part of the Five Stripes’ early success, starting 104 games, including nine playoff games and the 2018 MLS Cup, across his three years with the club. He was heralded for his influence in the dressing room, an excellent and active defender, and a leader on the pitch.
Eventually, the friction with Frank de Boer paid dividends and he departed in the offseason, but with former Atlanta Vice President of Soccer Operations, Paul McDonough, now in charge of proceedings at Inter Miami as General Manager, as soon as the Argentine became available, it was a no-brainer acquisition for the expansion side, who now possess one of the best centre-half pairings in the league.
Per the report, Gonzalez Pirez will not officially sign until early July when a temporary transfer window is set to open for MLS teams to make customary roster moves, primarily with USL affiliates before the MLS is Back tournament. But once he arrives in Miami, his and Nicolas Figal’s partnership could be the start of an excellent backline. Diego Alonso already has Ben Sweat and Roman Torres as experienced MLS defenders in the squad. Adding Gonzalez Pirez takes the unit to a new level.
Inter Miami have assembled quite the team. And with Gonzalez Pirez set to be bought down with TAM as he will come under the maximum TAM threshold of $1.6125 million, they still have a third DP slot to play with, which will likely be used on a star centre-forward.
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If they are able to add a goalscorer to the mix, Alonso has the makings of an exciting, vibrant, high-performing squad at his fingertips. It is one that has been invested in, assembled smartly, and is now ready to compete in their first MLS season. Inter Miami mean business.