Miami Inter january 2025

January was all about reset—new faces, veteran wisdom, and Messi in control

-Wilson Alvarez

Inter Miami Kicks Off 2025 Season With Strong Preseason Momentum

First Month Recap: January 2025

Inter Miami CF wrapped up January 2025 with two preseason friendlies, both ending in draws and decided via penalty shootouts. On January 18, they faced Club América in Las Vegas; the match finished 2–2 in regulation, but the Herons triumphed 3–2 on penalties thanks to a last-gasp equalizer by Tomás Avilés and calm spot‑kicks from young talents like Santiago Morales AS USA+3intermiamicf+3Inter Heron+3Wikipedia. Then on January 29, they drew 0–0 with Universitario in Lima but won the shootout 5–4 to stay unbeaten in the pre‑season on the Americas Tour ESPN.comintermiamicf.

Games played: 2
Record: 0 wins, 0 losses, 2 draws (2 shootout victories)

Standout Performer: MVP of January

The MVP of the month was Lionel Messi, whose leadership in both matches kept Miami composed under pressure. While he didn’t score in Lima, he netted the first equalizer against Club América and played significant minutes as Mascherano carefully managed his workload—echoing the club’s cautious approach to preserve his fitness ahead of the Club World CupDiario AS+1Diario AS+1.

Roster Changes & Injuries

Head coach Javier Mascherano used January to reshape the squad: Inter Miami confirmed four new signings—midfielder Telasco Segovia, defender Gonzalo Luján, goalkeeper Rocco Ríos Novo, and midfielder Tadeo Allende—while seeing eight departures, including Diego Gómez to Brighton and others off contracts or moved on Diario AS+2Diario AS+2Wikipedia+2. On January 31, attacker Facundo Farías was permanently transferred to Estudiantes de La Plata intermiamicf+14intermiamicf+14intermiamicf+14. There were no major new injuries within the preseason, though long-term plans remain cautious—particularly regarding Messi’s previous mishaps and Suárez’s chronic knee concerns, which will require smart minutes management through the year Diario AS.

Coach & Team Quotes

Mascherano acknowledged the time crunch before the season: “Tenemos varios partidos de pretemporada y veremos cuántos minutos juega [Messi]… no queremos correr ningún riesgo,” emphasizing a more controlled, less grueling preseason compared to the previous year’s global tour Diario AS. He also underlined the urgency of integrating new players quickly ahead of the MLS opener and CONCACAF Champions Cup matches Diario AS.

Off-field Headlines

Two stories caught attention off the pitch: chatter around Suárez’s knee maintenance routine (he scored freely in recent matches but will now follow careful load management ahead of mid‑year tournaments) mlssoccer+8Diario AS+8sportsmole.co.uk+8; and buzz about Facundo Farías, a homegrown talent whose transfer back to Argentina stirred conversations among fans about development and opportunity at home intermiamicf+1intermiamicf+1.

Looking Ahead: Early February Fixtures

Miami heads into February with a confidence-boosting posture. The first game of the new calendar year is a Concacaf Champions Cup round‑of‑16 match at Sporting Kansas City, followed shortly by an MLS season opener at home against New York City FC—a high-profile clash in early February that promises drama, especially with Messi’s presence anticipated WikipediaESPN.com.

Commentary

January set a promising stage for Inter Miami CF. With zero regulation losses, two shootout wins, and no serious injuries, the team managed to build cohesion and maintain morale under Mascherano’s watchful eye. The influx of new signings and the exit of veteran names pointed to a deliberate rebuild, balancing youth and experience. Miami’s No. 10 remained the heartbeat—Messi’s involvement in both games, under conservative minutes load, demonstrated why the club placed him at the center of its pre‑season planning. Local fans could sense renewal in the air: the squad felt refreshed, sharp in training, and mentally ready for the dual challenge of MLS 2025 and continental competition. The voyage across Latin America may have looked brief, but it laid a foundation for what could become one of the club’s most competitive campaigns yet.