Inter Miami have experienced more change in the last 18 months than any other MLS franchise, with DeAndre Yedlin all too familiar with the journey.
The USA international went from Inter Miami’s captain to being traded to FC Cincinnati all within six months as Lionel Messi took the armband from Yedlin with the right-back then being shipped out to help meet salary cap requirements.
Although Yedlin insists he backed Messi to become Inter Miami’s captain, the former Newcastle United defender’s exit from Chase Stadium was a surprise given how much experience and quality the fullback offered the Florida franchise.
And 12 months on from Yedlin’s highly successful move to Cincinnati, the former Premier League star has opened up on how reacted to playing for his new club after his surprise trade exit from Inter Miami last year.
Yedlin admits he did not need a transition period after leaving Inter Miami
Speaking to FC Cincinnati’s official website, Yedlin revealed that he found the transition from Inter Miami to the Ohio-based franchise as seamless as possible, with the defender amazed with how quickly the change was given the surprise of the deal in the first place.
Yedlin said when asked about his move to Cincinnati: “It doesn’t feel that different, to be honest. I think, you know, that’s one of the things I truly admire about this team and club. Incoming players, at least for me, from my experience, really do feel welcomed.
“They’re brought in really quickly and made it feel part of the group, so that doesn’t really feel that different. It’s kind of nice to be honest, going into it having not known everybody, and knowing how things work.
“It’s hard to come in as a new player, you don’t need to expect but at the end of the day, here, everything’s just normal.”
READ MORE: DeAndre Yedlin reveals how he reacted when Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami
Who are Inter Miami’s captains since Yedlin’s exit?
Messi is the defacto Inter Miami captain since Yedlin’s trade to Cincinnati last year, with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner the only logical pick for the role having led Argentina to a FIFA World Cup title as skipper.
Yet Messi is far from the only captain the Herons have turned to, with this pre-season alone seeing Julian Gressel take the armband for Inter Miami this week in the friendly win away in Peru to Universitario de Deportes.
With Drake Callender and Sergio Busquets also wearing the captain’s armband last season for Inter Miami, the Florida franchise are not short of leaders in the locker room, and this experience will be key going into the 2025 campaign under Javier Mascherano.