It’s out with the old and in with the new over the offseason at Inter Miami with changes taking place on and off the field.
Several big names have left the club, Leo Campana recently joined the New England Revolution in a record deal, while San Diego FC have signed former Herons goalkeeper CJ dos Santos.
The MLS newcomers are also reportedly in talks with Franco Negri but Inter Miami have strengthened their side in recent weeks through the MLS SuperDraft.
Attacking midfielder Bailey Sparks was selected first by the Herons, while striker Michael Appiah will provide Inter Miami with some support for Luis Suarez.
There is also a new manager in the hot seat at Chase Stadium as Javier Mascherano has taken over the reins from Gerardo Martino.
One of Martino’s most influential players during his tenure, Diego Gomez, recently left the club to join Premier League side Brighton. Martino has had his say on the Paraguayan’s move to England.
Martino backs Gomez decision to leave Inter Miami
While things did not end exactly how Martino would have liked at Inter Miami following what looked to be a fantastic season for the club, he certainly helped bring some form of success.
Martino would spend just one full season with the Herons where he would help the club win their first-ever trophy, the Leagues Cup. Despite also topping the regular season’s points table with a new record haul (74 points), it would be a shocking loss to Atlanta in the first round of the playoffs that would ultimately cost Martino his job.
The Herons’ defeat was dubbed ‘one of the biggest failures’ in North American sports history by former USA international Herculez Gomez.
While Martino will look at his time as some sort of success one man who played a key part in this was the recently departed Gomez.
Martino has explained how the midfield maestro, who played almost every game for him, made the right decision to join Brighton.
Speaking to The Athletic he said: “This is my own personal opinion, I believe it’s the right team and the right league for Diego. If I had to choose a better alternative for him I don’t think I’d have one. Brighton have a new manager. He’s young and I think all those things will be good for Diego.”
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Could Bailey Sparks answer the Diego Gomez questions?
There is no doubt that the departure of Gomez will be a huge loss for Inter Miami this season, and it is likely that the club will try and find a replacement, but do they already have one?
21-year-old Sparks was picked up in the MLS SuperDraft by the Herons and despite being labelled as more of a goal-scoring midfielder than Gomez there’s no reason why he couldn’t adapt.
Despite being slighter in frame he will have youthful exuberance in the middle of the field which should dovetail nicely with the experienced Sergio Busquets.
Busquets himself was praised by the MLS SuperDraft number one overall pick. Manu Duah explained how Busquets was someone he shaped his game on.
It is unlikely that Bailey will be taking the place of Lionel Messi behind the striker anytime soon, but if he can show that he has a more defensive side to his game it could earn him a regular starting spot in an exciting Inter Miami side.
If all else fails Inter Miami could look to a few potential free-agent signings in Koke or Leandro Paredes.