Inter Miami CF is preparing its roster with a focus on winning the Supporters’ Shield and the MLS Cup. The club is now stronger with the addition of veteran goalkeeper Oscar Ustari this month — whether he plays much or not down the stretch.
No stranger to taking the field with Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi, Ustari, 38, occupies an international roster slot on the team and brings a lot more than support to the club’s starting goalkeeper, Drake Callender.
“The reality is that my arrival was because of a teammate’s injury. This made for easier conditions, since I was free, and the staff knew me. They knew what I could contribute to the field,” Ustari said after a recent practice, referring to replacing CJ dos Santos, who is out with a hand injury. “That was the only thing that we talked about. The intention was to do it as fast as possible so I could join the team, adapt to the weather and do other things that the coach wanted.”
“The reality is that I am a person with soccer experience, and I come to contribute to any position they put me in. I’m very happy to be here and for the opportunity they are giving me. At the end of the day, this is soccer, and anyone must be prepared in any circumstances.”
An Argentinian goalkeeper, Ustari is ready to bring professional experience to the team as it prepares for a title run. He has been on the active roster for two games, including Wednesday’s 2-2 draw with Atlanta United. Callender started that game and will still be first in the lineup, moving forward. But there is no doubt that Ustari will be a great asset as a replacement if any injury happens.
“I would love to contribute from every position, which can be by playing or not playing. I like to talk to the guys about certain things that you cannot see in the field, which I gained from the time that I have played soccer,” he said. “This gives me the ability to see things and value other things.”
Messi and Ustari go way back to their days playing on Argentina’s top youth teams. They won titles together with national clubs as well, including at the FIFA U-20 World Youth Championship and the Beijing Olympic Games.
This relationship will also bring a stronger connection to Inter Miami’s young players, as they can learn from both stars. Though not made official in the roster announcement, Messi almost certainly recommended Ustari as a replacement for dos Santos.
“It all started in 2004, maybe, when we played the South Americans and until this day, our relationship has been good,” Ustari said of Messi. “In fact, it was a coincidence that last week I was with him and five days later, this happened.”
Ustari began his career at a young age in Argentina’s Club Atlético Independiente before joining professional leagues around the world. He played across Europe and South America in the most competitive leagues and was rostered on teams like Getafe (Spain), Sunderland (England) and Boca Junior (Argentina).
In his experience, he has racked up more than 390 professional appearances to date, including 12 in the UEFA Europa League and more than 40 in La Liga. Ustari also added to his title resume with one Liga MX Cup and an Argentinian Cup with Boca Juniors, one of the most famous teams in Argentina. The last team Ustari played for was the Audax Italiano. They released him as a free agent before he signed with Inter Miami.
“We’re pleased to incorporate an experienced player like Oscar to add depth to our goalkeeping group for the remainder of the season,” Inter Miami chief soccer officer and sporting director Chris Henderson said. “His addition will be key during this final stretch of the campaign as CJ dos Santos is currently recovering from an injury and Cole Jensen continues to develop, gaining professional experience with Inter Miami CF II in MLS NEXT Pro.”
Inter Miami remains first in the Supporters’ Shield standings with 19 wins. It has the best record in the league, as it eyes the MLS Cup, and its total of 63 points is eight ahead of second-place FC Cincinnati (55).
But, there’s a long way to go. Inter Miami (19-6-4) wants to make history, and there is no doubt that the team is powerful, but the road won’t be easy. On Saturday, at Yankee Stadium in New York, Messi and company will take on New York City FC (11-7-11) at 2 p.m.
