Inter Miami’s back line has been significantly upgraded with the arrival of Leandro González Pírez from Club Tijuana. The 28-year-old defender is an ideal tactical fit for an Inter Miami team that is surprisingly close to establishing its footballing identity.
However, the plan to sign the former Atlanta United defender was formulated rather quickly. It was a byproduct of COVID-19’s economic impact on global soccer, coupled with Major League Soccer’s allocation process. González Pírez is not the globally-recognized attacking player that the world is expecting from David Beckham’s club. Instead, sporting director Paul McDonough has added a top MLS defender to Miami’s roster by taking advantage of a unique roster mechanism.
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“I think we were fortunate with Leandro becoming available,” said McDonough on Tuesday. “It was one of those things that… the pandemic has really affected a lot of clubs in the world. We were just really, really fortunate to be able to come in and get him at a really, really good price, fit him into the TAM (targeted allocation money) category and bring in a top quality player.”
González Pírez will travel and train with Inter Miami in Orlando, but he won’t be able to compete in any matches due to MLS’s new two-day transfer window policy. The league is expected to announce additional details on Wednesday.
“The only thing I don’t like about (the deal) is I can’t have him in Disney,” McDonough said. “Certain guys can play. Certain guys can’t. He comes into the TAM threshold, so the league will not let him play. If you’re a non-TAM (signing) then you can play. The league has ruled on this. I don’t understand it. I don’t agree with it. But it is what it is. I’ve told the league that, but that’s just the way it goes.”
When the possibility of signing González Pírez became real, McDonough contacted Club Tijuana officials and was told that the club would need to sell some players. Aside from the financial motivation to do so, Tijuana also has 16 foreign players on its current roster. Liga MX owners agreed in December to limit the number of foreign players to 11 beginning this June. Nine foreigners will be allowed on the pitch during official matches. In Mexico, that decision has been referred to as “The Tata Martino Rule.” Martino has consistently lobbied for Liga MX to provide better development opportunities for Mexican-born players.
To complete the signing of González Pírez, McDonough then waited for LAFC, who were then at the top of MLS’s allocation order, to complete the signing of Andy Najar before securing the transfer of González Pírez from Xolos. Meanwhile, the former MLS best XI defender and 2019 all-star, who played his first Liga MX match on January 10th, was busy contemplating whether or not he was coming back to America too soon.
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“Honestly when things started, I had my doubts about returning (to MLS) so quickly,” González Pírez told The Athletic from Miami.
His situation at Tijuana changed when manager Gustavo Quinteros abruptly left the club on June 12. According to reports in Mexico, the club’s difficult financial situation was one reason why Quinteros was forced out. Other outlets claimed that after Quinteros negotiated a salary cut, he still disagreed with the club’s approach to strengthening the squad.
González Pírez acknowledged that he was also in the process of finalizing a salary decrease before adding “when this opportunity came up, we worked together to make sure it was good for everyone—for me and for Xolos.”
In short, it was, in fact, the right time to return to MLS.
“At the beginning of this year, I wasn’t planning on returning quickly,” said González Pírez. “But COVID-19 has caused a lot of economic problems in Mexico. When (Quinteros) resigned it surprised all of us. I wasn’t expecting that. And so perhaps it played a role, even though I was already excited about Miami’s project. I had spoken with Diego (Alonso) and with Paul. I’m just excited to win here.”
González Pírez played in 10 league matches and four Copa MX games for Tijuana. The former River Plate defender ended his stint at Xolos with three goals — the last one coming on March 11th in the second leg of a Copa MX tie against Toluca. Liga MX canceled the 2020 clausura tournament shortly thereafter. Tijuana won just two league matches, tied three and lost five under Quinteros, but González Pírez had established himself as one of the club’s top performers. He called his time in Mexico “positive.”
“Without the pandemic, things would be much different right now,” said González Pírez. “But this opportunity came up and I took it. I felt comfortable in (Mexico). It’s very similar to how I felt in (MLS) because of the football that’s played there. That’s why I was able to adapt so quickly. I consider it a success, although I would’ve liked that it had lasted longer.”
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González Pírez holds a green card, which leaves Inter Miami’s two remaining international roster slots available. He’ll join a back line that features 26-year-old Argentine Nico Figal, 34-year-old Panamanian international Roman Torres, and 20-year-old Colombian Andres Reyes. McDonough said that he expects to add a No. 8 and an attacking player later this summer.
“We’re really happy with how we are in the back,” McDonough said. “But, for me, this strengthens us, because anytime you can get a guy who’s one of the top players in his position in the league — if not the best — then I think that’s a massive addition to your team. We’re really happy with the way our defense looks now.”
The expectation is for Alonso to pair Figal with González Pírez, who is accustomed to playing as a left-sided center back despite being predominantly right-footed. In González Pírez, Inter Miami have added a technical defender who can break lines with accurate distribution from his position, which should allow him to actively contribute to Miami’s attack. He should have no issues understanding Alonso’s pressing system after playing in similar for Atlanta United under Tata Martino.
“What I’ve seen (from Inter Miami) is a clear way of playing,” González Pírez said. “There’s a defined style which is what we were known for in Atlanta when we started under Tata (Martino). I see similar things. Diego is an experienced coach and that’s going to help me grow and develop as a player. And that’s what ultimately drives someone to take on a change like this one and come to a new team. The manager is always very important.”
González Pírez was handpicked by Martino before Atlanta United’s inaugural 2017 season because he was the type of defender who could help establish and maintain an attacking philosophy that placed increased offensive responsibilities on the team’s central defenders.
“I always thought Leandro was a massive piece for Atlanta,” said McDonough. “His leadership, his ability to play out of the back, his passion. When we were getting Nico Figal, I really wanted to try and emulate that type of a player. We think Figal is one of the top center backs in the league. And we think with Leandro, we now have two of the top center backs in the league. Reyes has an enormous upside and he’s a player that will eventually move on for a big sale to a European club.”
During Inter Miami’s inaugural match away to LAFC on March 1, Alonso chose a 4-2-3-1 formation, followed by a 3-4-3 a week later against DC United. González Pírez is comfortable in both formations after playing for Martino and Frank de Boer in Atlanta. Alonso will now benefit from having an experienced ball-playing center back and influential locker room leader with a decorated MLS résumé.
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His addition allows Inter Miami to eventually opt for an athletic and aggressive back three of Reyes, Figal and González Pírez, or a more traditional back four. McDonough added that, if needed, Figal could move into a defensive midfield position next to Wil Trapp. However, even though González Pírez is the obvious choice to start alongside Figal, Inter Miami fans will have to wait until after MLS’s Orlando tournament to see the two Argentines in action together.
In Atlanta, González Pírez was both beloved and misunderstood by the fan base. He was a risk taker who never shied away from the occasional rash challenge or a fiery confrontation with an official. In three seasons with Atlanta United, González Pírez finished with 29 yellow cards and three red cards. McDonough believes that González Pírez can play at a high level in Europe if he can find a consistent balance between risk and control.
“South American players — and especially Argentinians — they’re so competitive,” said McDonough. “Their passion and competitiveness are things that make them really special players. That’s good and it’s bad. You need guys that are super passionate, but sometimes it gets away from them. I know criticism of (González Pírez) is that he gets a yellow card here or there. But he’s still one of the best defenders in the league and he was an influential player in a lot of wins and a lot of trophies.
“People think that strikers have to be selfish. They’ve gotta have an ego and they’ve got to have a hunger. If you don’t have defenders that can match that, then the striker’s going to walk all over them. When strikers come up against Nico, Leandro, Reyes, Roman… they know they’re coming in and they’re going to have a full day of work. And that’s important for us to be successful.”
González Pírez flew to Miami from San Diego this week with his wife, who is 30 weeks pregnant, and their young daughter. His two golden retrievers are being cared for by a neighbor and will arrive next week. He called the last few days “crazy” after preparing for a cross-country move in just three days. However, joining Inter Miami and the opportunity to chase the same type of success that he found in Atlanta, have made the pressures of a life-changing move worthwhile.
“When I first arrived in Atlanta they had the same plans and we were able to fulfill them,” said González Pírez. “Now I’m part of a similar project. I think the stakes are higher because of the reach of a city like Miami and (an owner) like David Beckham. There’s a magnitude to this (project) that really excites me. It’s a club that is already very impressive.
“They have a stadium, a training ground. They’re very prepared and we have everything that we need. What’s left is for the players and the team to embrace that responsibility and to make our mark like we did in Atlanta.”
(Photo courtesy Inter Miami)
