Inter Miami CF 2022 Season Preview

2022 Schedule

First game/Home opener: Feb. 26 - 6:00 pm ET vs. Chicago Fire FC
Full schedule
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Armchair Analyst's Breakdown

Strength: The hope is that the new central midfield duo of Gregore and Jean Mota will be a position of strength, and that good things will flow from there.
Weakness: Everything about Miami being competent right now is just a theory. None of it has been shown in practice.

Key Departures

Blaise Matuidi: Nothing has been officially announced ahead of roster compliance day (Friday) just yet, but Blaise Matuidi isn’t coming back to Miami. The signing didn’t pan out, leaving Miami with sanctions following an investigation, while Matuidi wasn’t particularly effective on the field either. A DP spot is open, but the expectation is Miami will wait until the summer to utilize it.
Rodolfo Pizarro: Another DP departing is Mexican international Rodolfo Pizarro. Like Matuidi, he didn’t live up to expectations, as he was the centerpiece of the inaugural roster before Gonzalo Higuain and Matuidi arrived in the summer. Pizarro was acquired for $12 million from CF Monterrey but never found consistency, with just seven goals and 12 assists in 46 games. He left on loan this offseason for Monterrey, though through complex MLS roster criteria, the club can’t use his DP spot.
Lewis Morgan: One of Miami's bright spots the two years, Lewis Morgan was traded to the New York Red Bulls for $1.2 million GAM at the beginning of the offseason. Miami would have wanted to keep him, but they needed to raise allocation money in wake of the sanctions. U22 Initiative winger Emerson Rodriguez should soak up most of those minutes.
Leandro Gonzalez Pirez: Leandro Gonzalez Pirez is on the move again, this time signing on loan with River Plate in Argentina after 18 months with Miami. The defender previously spent half a year with Liga MX’s Club Tijuana after a few seasons with Atlanta United.
Honorable mentions include Nico Figal, Julian Carranza, Kelvin Leerdam, Christian Makoun, Ryan Shawcross and more. There's been a ton of housecleaning by sporting director Chris Henderson and the front office.

Key Acquisitions

Jean Mota: An early signing in the offseason that has since flown under the radar given Miami's many exits, midfielder Jean Mota was signed from Santos. He should partner compatriot Gregore at the heart of manager Phil Neville’s midfield after making 207 career appearances with Santos. There’s usually a good pedigree when Henderson goes shopping in Brazil.
Leonardo Campana: Leonardo Campana joins Miami on loan from English Premier League team Wolverhampton Wanderers. The deal comes with a purchase option and he’s on the roster as a U22 Initiative signing. The highly-rated talent already has 10 caps with Ecuador at just 21 years old.
DeAndre Yedlin: Part of Miami’s new-look backline, USMNT fullback DeAndre Yedlin is immediately a leader for this young team. He signed after negotiating a contract buyout with Turkey's Fenerbahce and returns to MLS after being among the first wave of academy talents going to Europe, signing with Tottenham from Seattle in 2014. Yedlin and another fellow newcomer, Jamaican center back Damion Lowe, are key additions in defense.
Full roster

DeAndre Yedlin speaks to the media about his excitement for #InterMiamiCF 's Home Opener on February 26th 🏟️⚽ pic.twitter.com/E3LPlVpcIk
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) February 10, 2022