Inter Miami are shaping up to make another superstar signing in 2025, with new manager Javier Mascherano having the final say on the matter.
The former Argentine international was selected to replace Tata Martino this off-season with Mascherano taking on his first club management role after two years with the Argentina youth set-up.
With Mascherano already interested in signing Angel Di Maria for Inter Miami, it’s clear that the 40-year-old coach will want to use his contacts with the Argentina national team to bring in a big-name player for the Herons.
And Inter Miami are now looking at yet another Argentine international who Mascherano and Lionel Messi both played with.
Nicolas Otamendi now on Inter Miami’s transfer radar for 2025
According to Pasion Futbol, Inter Miami are exploring the possibility of signing Benfica defender Nicolas Otamendi, who is expected to leave the Portuguese giants next summer when his contract expires.
The veteran defender has been a mainstay for the Argentina national team in the last 15 years with Otamendi making 123 appearances for the South American giants and playing every single minute at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Having played for the likes of FC Porto, Manchester City and now Benfica, the 36-year-old defender has quite the resume when it comes to potential center-back signings for Inter Miami, with Otamendi also a friend of Mascherano and Messi’s.
And with central defense a position that Inter Miami will be looking into this winter, Otamendi could be a sensible signing for the Herons, who this season under Martino leaked goals at the back at an alarming rate.
Otamendi could be the dream big-name signing for the Herons this winter
With Inter Miami linked with the likes of Mohamed Salah as well as the aforementioned Di Maria, it’s clear that a forward is on the agenda for the Herons as Mascherano looks to build his roster for the 2025 MLS season.
Yet given how bad Inter Miami were defensively this year, a top center-back could be more important than yet another attacker, and Otamendi could be the dream big-name signing for the Florida franchise this winter.
The 36-year-old defender is a regular at the highest level in Europe and could jump at the chance to play alongside Messi as well as be coached by Mascherano, with Inter Miami the dream location for Otamendi with his Benfica contract expiring next year.