Inter Miami’s summer transfer window was one for the history books.
The high-profile signings of Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba have propelled Inter Miami into the upper echelon of the footballing world.
Despite the team’s magical summer run that saw them win its first title in club history, the Herons failed to capitalize on that momentum and were recently eliminated from playoff contention.
With only two games left in the Major League Soccer regular season, the team will shift its focus to the off-season.
As the club pivots to 2024, it’s evident that several positions need to be revamped if Miami wants the chance at MLS Cup. Inter Miami already has a strong spine of players, led by Messi, Busquets, and Alba. Furthermore, the U22 initiative signings of Diego Gomez, Tomas Aviles, and Facundo Farias also show promise.
But, with Inter Miami in various competitions next year, including the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the Herons need a mixture of depth, youth, and experience if they want a chance at success.
Roster revamp
At striker, Leonardo Campana and Josef Martinez have rotated throughout the year, with some games where the South American duo shared the pitch. Martinez has been the preferred choice for head coach Tata Martino, but Campana seems to gel the best with Messi in the final third.
Martinez’s contract expires at the end of this season and, it remains to be seen if Inter Miami will re-sign him. If they don’t, a potential move for Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez isn’t off the cards, however, that largely depends on whether his salary would be feasible within MLS roster rules.
Playing the youth
In the center of the pitch, youngsters Benjamin Cremaschi, David Ruiz, and the aforementioned Gomez look to be the future of Miami’s midfield. With an aging Busquets as the single pivot, the Herons will need to continue to bring in speed and physicality to cover his blind spot.
Dixon Arroyo, Lawson Sunderland, and Victor Ulloa have also gotten minutes in midfield this season, but if Miami wants to make the step up, extra depth is needed.
Lastly, Miami’s backline is, probably, the biggest area of need.
With the re-signing of Canadian centerback Kamal Miller to a contract extension, the Herons have locked down an MLS All-Star caliber center half when in form. Young defender Tomas Aviles looks to have a high upside and veteran Sergiy Kryvtsov is the most experienced out of the trio.
With manager Tata Martino preferring to play a possession-based style that requires a high line, there are times when the trio can get beat for pace against opposition attackers. If Miami wants to remedy this problem, going after a pacy center back who is comfortable defending in the wide areas is key.
Ultimately, Miami has a good group of core players. If they want to achieve their goals, though, adding players that can complement Messi will be crucial.