Racing Club defender Tomás Avilés to Inter Miami

If Tata Martino asks, he will receive.

Inter Miami and Racing Club have reached an agreement for 19-year-old defender Tomás Avilés. A fee of $9M will get Tata Martino his desired center back.

Avilés joins Paraguayan midfielder Diego Gómez as Inter Miami’s second signing under the U-22 Initiative this month.

Aviles made his professional debut for Racing earlier this year and has gone on to make 22 appearances across all competitions. The teenager came on strong over the summer, starting eight of his last nine appearances. Capable of playing in a back three or four, Aviles is comfortable on the ball while offering a tidy passing game.

A former Chilean youth international, Avilés recently switched allegiances to Argentina, who he represented at the 2023 U-20 World Cup

The defender joins an Inter Miami team that has conceded the fourth-most goals in the league (37), and sitting dead last in the league on points (18). Last week, Ian Fray suffered an ACL injury, which made Miami’s need for defenders even more urgent.

Regardless of their current situation, Inter Miami is looking to make an unlikely playoff push because of some unprecedented reinforcements. Avilés joins the previously mentioned Gómez, Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba as players to arrive in South Beach this summer.

If Tata Martino gets his wish, there will be more, with midfielder Facundo Farías another U-22 target.