Inter Miami enters 2025 with a mission to bounce back from last year’s early playoff exit and to reinforce a roster still revolving around Lionel Messi. With the new coach Javier Mascherano after the unexpected exit from Gerardo “Tata” Martino, the Herons are looking for new faces in the transfer market.
The offseason saw Inter Miami say goodbye to significant players, the most notable being the midfielder Diego Gómez, departing to Brighton for $13 million. The paraguayan played two years at the club, but left a mark with the 2023 Leagues Cup Win and 2024 Supporters Shield, playing in 40 games and contributing with seven goals and six assists.
Inter Miami also lost the Paraguayan midfielder Matías Rojas to River Plate in a free transfer, and the second top-scorer of the franchise history, striker Leonardo Campana, moved to the New England Revolution. The club also parted ways with several other players on free transfers, emphasizing the need to strengthen key positions. The latest news is the departure of the Argentine striker Facundo Farías on a to Estudiantes De La Plata. ‘La Joya’ arrived in August of 2023 to the Miami team, and missed all the 2024 season due to a cruciate ligament tear.
So far, Inter Miami has added 33-year-old left winger Fafa Picault on a free transfer from Vancouver Whitecaps. The Haitian comes with eight years of MLS experience, in which he scored 57 goals and provided 30 assists. In a one-year loan, the Argentine striker Tadeo Allende joins Inter Miami from Celta de Vigo, while young midfielder Edison Azcona has returned from his loan at Las Vegas Lights. The last official transfer comes from one of the big teams in Argentina, the U23 Argentine defender Gonzalo Lujan arrived at Inter Miami from San Lorenzo de Almagro to be managed by Mascherano once more after the Summer Olympics at Paris 2024.
For some, these transfers are not enough to address the issues that cost Inter Miami their early elimination from last season.
Victoria Claira, a journalist from Infobae (Argentina) who has followed Inter Miami since Messi’s arrival, believes the club’s transfer activity must aim at the defensive weaknesses that contributed to their 2024 season disappointment.
“During Tata Martino’s era, Inter Miami struggled the most in transitioning from offense to defense,” Claira said. “They’ve brought in Fafa Picault for the attack, but they still need reinforcements at the back. Whether it’s Gonzalo Luján or another defensive option, it’s critical for them to shore up that area.”
Claira also said that while speculation continues about the possibility of signing more superstars like Neymar, Mascherano shot that down, referencing MLS roster rules and salary caps.
“They can’t just throw money around if it doesn’t fit within league regulations,” Claira said. “Mascherano’s real challenge is to mold a cohesive squad with a balance of proven MLS players and strategic signings from abroad.”
Though Mascherano emphasizes on the importance of improving the roster, he is also focused on the intensity and work that the team needs to do. After just his second day of training, Mascherano deeply believes in his group.
“The first goal is to get the squad back to a high level physically and mentally, then work on our tactical ideas,” the new coach said “Once the new signings are confirmed and paperwork is in order, we’ll integrate them as quickly as possible.”
Inter Miami is operating under tight deadlines to finalize player transfers before the preseason tour kicks off on January 29th. If they can secure the final transfers and fill the position the coach needs, 2025 could have a different conclusion for the Herons.