Inter Miami was on course for what could be described as one of the most grueling preseason tours ever undertaken by a Major League Soccer team. According to USA TODAY, the club was slated to journey an impressive 25,165.54 miles during their Worldwide Preseason Tour.
The primary goal for Inter Miami on this tour was to enhance their international visibility and reach markets where fans may not have previously had the chance to see Lionel Messi play locally. Additionally, the tour was pivotal in providing the team with valuable game time, preparing them for a season that could see them play an extensive number of matches. This year, Inter Miami is participating in three major competitions: MLS, the CONCACAF Champions Cup, and the Leagues Cup.
As the soccer world buzzed with the thrill of seeing stars like Leo Messi and Luis Suárez reunited on the same team, a persistent concern lingered in the minds of many: “Can the players maintain their fitness and avoid injuries with all this preseason travel?” Now, with the initial match behind them, the collective anxiety seemed to foreshadow an event.
In the opening preseason match against El Salvador, Facundo Farias encountered a severe setback, tearing his ACL caused by an awkward fall after a foul by vetera Darwin Ceren. The initial enthusiasm for the preseason tournament rapidly turned to collective concern among fans as they witnessed Farias being carried off the field on a stretcher. Farías is now scheduled for surgery in the upcoming weeks, sidelining him for the remainder of the season.
Farias, a promising Argentine talent, was acquired by Inter Miami to help on the offensive side of the field. At 21-years-old, he made a notable impact in his debut MLS season, contributing three goals and two assists in 13 appearances across all competitions. Farias particularly impressed with his remarkable sliding goal last season during an away game at BMO Stadium, where he skillfully scored in front of LAFC’s 3252 supporter section, a highlight moment that showcased his potential for the 2024 MLS season.
By securing Farias with a long-term U22 Initiative contract, Inter Miami had major aspirations for the young Argentine’s growth, with the guidance of mentors like Messi and Suárez. Farias was considered an integral part of the Herons squad, especially as a starter for occasions when the senior players might be absent due to international tournaments such as the Copa América.
Despite the setback of his injury, the situation for Inter Miami isn’t completely grim. The club possesses the financial means to facilitate a transfer to address the void left by Farias. Furthermore, placing him on the Season-Ending Injury List enables the team to acquire a replacement with the same designation (if wanted), a U-22 Initiative player, potentially transforming this challenge into an opportunity for strategic reinforcement. Transferring Farias to the season-ending injury list results in freeing up $550,000 on the salary cap, providing the team with some flexibility to add a valuable offensive asset to the roster.
A player who has been associated with the Herons and still fits the U-22 criteria is Cristian Medina. He’s a talented 21-year-old who made a significant impact in Argentine soccer, participating in more than 49 matches for Copa Libertadores Finalists, Boca Juniors in the past year. While Medina’s primary position is more central compared to Farias, he could provide versatility by covering the central defensive midfield or central midfield positions, pushing Benjamin Cremaschi out to the wing, or making Tata Martino consider a formation change.
It’s worth noting that acquiring Medina wouldn’t come cheap to MLS standards, as there have been rumors of Inter Miami offering anywhere from $7.5 million-$12 million to secure the Argentine’s signature last December. If the Herons manage to add Medina to their roster using the season-ending injury mechanism, it would bolster the team from South Beach with even more talent, which all could be potentially sold at a higher price point once they further develop in Miami.
Inter Miami is expected to be linked with more players this month, as they potentially have the most financial flexibility in the league due to all the recent trades they finalized. According to reports, one of the names that has recently emerged is Agustin Palavecino from River Plate. The 27-year-old would fit right into the slot left void by Farias and would look to be an offensive boost to the Herons.
It would be in Inter Miami’s best interest to adopt a more aggressive approach after the injury and aim to quickly strengthen their offensive lineup before the MLS season begins.
Currently, Leonardo Campana, Robert Taylor, and Julian Gressel will all need to step up and compensate for the absence created by Farias’ injury during this Preseason Tour. While nobody wishes for a player to be sidelined for an entire season, there is a potential advantage in this situation as Inter Miami may have the opportunity to sign more skilled players while benefiting from Messi’s presence on the team, under the current MLS roster regulations.
This website aggregates and curates news articles, blog posts, and other content from a variety of external sources. While we aim to link back to the original source, this site does not own or claim ownership of any articles, posts, or other content indexed on this site. The views, opinions, and factual statements expressed in each piece of aggregated content belong solely to its respective author and publisher. We make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of aggregated content. Visitors are advised to verify facts and claims through the original source before reuse or redistribution.
