Inter Miami brings in Messi’s known goalkeeper ahead of MLS playoffs

With Inter Miami at such an important juncture in the MLS, no stone is being left unturned by Tata Martino. A team that has already qualified for playoffs and stands as one of the favorites to lift the Supporters' Shield keeps strengthening its arsenal. The latest addition? Veteran Argentine goalkeeper Óscar Ustari, who is set to sign for the club as backup for Drake Callender following CJ dos Santos's injury.

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Plenty of Experience

Óscar Ustari is not just a name; the goalkeeper has been in the soccer world for nearly twenty years. He played from Independiente to Boca Juniors and Newell's Old Boys in Argentina, with an incursion into European soccer when he belonged to Getafe and Almería in LaLiga and even into Sunderland in the Premier League. More recently, in Liga MX with Pachuca, he even won the Apertura in 2022 and was summoned for the league's All-Star team. Now, at 38 years old, Ustari is making his MLS arrival with one thing in mind: to support Callender with solidity during the playoffs of the MLS Cup.

Messi Link

One of the most intriguing aspects in this signing is Ustari's past pairing with Lionel Messi. The two were in the same squad when Argentina lifted the U-20 World Cup in 2005, and more memorably, paired as they won gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

High Priority

An injury to CJ dos Santos that included surgery after fracturing a bone in his left hand had Inter Miami in a spot of bother. While Drake Callender has been extremely consistent this season, not having an experienced backup might have been a gamble that the club didn't want to take, especially at such a critical period. With the playoffs looming, with Messi's triumphant return expected, bringing Ustari aboard was considered the perfect way to ensure the team is fully prepared for any given situation.

Looking at the Record

Inter Miami is not only on their ways to the MLS Cup but also toward breaking records. With 59 points in 27 games, Tata Martino's squad is fully on its way to break the record of 73 points in a regular MLS season, set by the New England Revolution in 2021. Adding Ustari to this-let's mention Messi's expected return-is putting more fuel in the ambitions of dominance for the club both for the regular season and the playoffs.