What Would Marcos Rojo’s Arrival Mean for Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami?

Inter Miami is aiming for the stars in the 2024 season. After ending the last year by winning just the Leagues Cup, David Beckham’s soccer franchise is motivated to burn its midnight oil to achieve glory in the upcoming campaign. For starters, the club is busy bolstering its ranks, most recently reuniting Lionel Messi with his former Barcelona teammate, Luis Suarez. 

But it seems the club will continue to add more firepower. The latest talent rumored to don the pink jersey is former Manchester United ace Marcos Rojo. However, what exactly does the arrival of yet another one of Messi’s teammates mean for Inter Miami? Will he help cater for the defensive woes that the Herons have been struggling with? 

Can Marcos Rojo become a hero for Tata Martino’s defense?

There’s no doubt that Inter Miami has some of the most talented players at its disposal. However, the club’s backline hasn’t been impressive at all. As per Footy Stats, the Herons conceded 1.59 goals per match throughout the 2023 campaign, which is a shoddy defensive record. In fact, they conceded goals that seemed almost unintended in the majority of their matches. Therefore, Tata Martino must sign some promising defenders, and Marcos Rojo could be an excellent starting point. 

The 33-year-old’s experience makes him a perfect fit for Miami’s defensive line. The defender helped Jose Mourinho’s Red Devils lift the Europa League in 2016-17. Aside from hailing a 6’1” build, the Boca Junior star is versatile and can play both as a left-back and a center-back. While Rojo hasn’t featured in any Argentine Primera División matches, he has participated in 16 games across the Copa Argentina and Copa Libertadores, even netting a goal in the Copa de la Liga. Overall, Rojo seems to be the man who can balance the back line, but his arrival will come at the cost of a few departures. 

The necessary adjustment to take to welcome Lionel Messi’s companion!

The arrival of Marcos Rojo would mean Inter Miami would be required to make a few changes to their roster. Speaking for the existing group of center-backs, Tomas Aviles and Kamal Miller will surely stay. Both have managed to gain the trust of Tata Martino, with Aviles making three goal contributions in 11 matches and Miller making 28 appearances. 

On the other hand, Christopher McVey and Ryan Sailor are two defenders who did not convince the former River Plate manager. While McVey made 23 apps and Sailor started eight matches in all competitions, both were absent, even in times of need and could see the exit doors. That leaves Serhiy Kryvtsov and Ian Fray as the remaining center-backs. 

Kryvtsov has made two goal contributions in 37 games. On the other hand, Fray made 11 appearances and scored a goal in the MLS. However, both are prone to injuries, putting them in line to get axed. Yet, looking at their stats, they can stay, but only if both center-backs manage to keep themselves fit. 

READ MORE: Official: Lionel Messi to Miss 7 MLS Games for Inter Miami Next Season

Now that the center-backs are sorted, let’s dive deeper to see how Miami can line up, including their right-backs and left-backs. 

How will the 2024 Inter Miami backline look? 

If Inter Miami can sign Marcos Rojo, he will partner with Tomas Aviles and Kamal Miller. DeAndre Yedlin will assist either of these centers as right-back. Similarly, Harvey Neville is also a potential choice, although it remains to see whether Martino will retain him for this season. Also, the pink outfit lately added Yannick Bright as a winter signing from the University of New Hampshire. Hence, both Neville and Bright would need to prove themselves. 

For the left-back, summer signing Jordi Alba is an obvious starter for Inter Miami. The former Barcelona man doesn’t need to prove anything, not to mention his lethal connection with Messi (now with Suarez, too). In 13 games, he managed to notch two goals and two assists. Alba’s backup, Noah Allen, is safe from the axe and can rotate with the Spaniard in the starting XI. Aside from making 31 appearances, he made four goal contributions. 

DIVE DEEPER: After Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi Calls Ex-Manchester United Star Marcos Rojo to Join Inter Miami, Per Reports

Franco Negri is another player who can compete for the left-back position, having made four goal contributions this season. However, the Argentinian is nursing his cruciate ligament tear, which might force Miami to put him on sale. 

Subsequently, if Miami decides to sell any of the defenders, they will need to bring reinforcements. For now, Rojo is the only player who is strongly rumored to arrive at DRV PNK Stadium. Rest assured, with the remaining players that are safe, Miami has nothing to lose. 

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What are your thoughts on Inter Miami signing Marcos Rojo? Let us know in the comments.