Inter Miami loans Julian Carranza to Philadelphia Union in exchange for draft pick
Inter Miami’s young Argentine forward Julian Carranza, one of the club’s first signings in 2019, was sent to the Philadelphia Union on loan for the 2022 season in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, the team announced on Thursday.
The deal includes an option to make the loan permanent.
“This transaction gives the club flexibility to continue maneuvering the roster, as we aim to improve the squad and achieve our objectives in the 2022 campaign. We wish Julián well during his loan stint,” said Inter Miami chief soccer officer and sporting director Chris Henderson.
Carranza signed for Inter Miami in July 2019 from Club Atlético Banfield of Argentina with much promise. He made 42 appearances in a Miami shirt, started 11 games, and scored three goals over two seasons. He was making $750,000 per year.
Carranza’s loan deal is the latest of many off-season moves Inter Miami is making heading into next season.
In the past month the club added midfielder/fullback Mo Adams from Atlanta United for the rights to backup goalkeeper Dylan Castanheira, winger/forward Ariel Lassiter (son of former MLS star Roy Lassiter) from Houston Dynamo and Brazilian midfielder Jean Mota from Santos. The club also re-signed veteran midfielder Victor Ulloa and traded winger Lewis Morgan to the New York Red Bulls for $1.2 million in general allocation money.
More moves are expected as Miami needs to recoup revenue after being fined $2,271,250 in allocation funds in 2022 and 2023 as punishment for roster rules violations in the Blaise Matuidi contract.
Neither Henderson nor coach Phil Neville were with the club when the rules were broken, but they are dealing with the consequences.
“It’s about building a roster, building an attitude, building a momentum to win next season,” Neville said at the end of the 2021 season. “This club has to win games, has to win things and we shouldn’t hide away from that. It’s going to be tough. We are behind the eight ball in terms of other teams and their ability to recruit because of the sanctions. We’ve accepted it, we’ll take it, but we have to make even better decisions because our margin of error is less than everyone else.”
Inter Miami will likely part ways with at least one of its three high-priced Designated Players – Matuidi, Gonzalo Higuain, Rodolfo Pizarro. According to Mexican media reports, a few Liga MX clubs have been in talks with Miami about Pizarro, the Mexican playmaker. Chivas and Monterrey are said to be interested.
Pizarro scored seven goals and had nine assists in 46 games with Miami and played for the Mexican national team over the past few years. Although he showed flashes of his skills, he and Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain never formed a productive partnership. Pizarro is in more demand from other clubs because he is younger and Higuain’s $6 million salary is among the highest in the league.
If Pizarro leaves, the team might replace him with Brazilian Raphael Veiga, a 26-year-old playmaker who scored 41 goals and had 11 assists in 139 games for Palmeiras since arriving in 2017. Inter Miami has been in negotiations with Veiga over the past month.
He helped the club win a historic Campeonato Paulista, Copa Libertadores, and Copa do Brasil treble in 2020. A few weeks ago, he scored a goal in the 2-1 Copa Libertadores final victory over Flamengo.
Veiga is known for his precision passing behind the forward, his dangerous runs and his shot-making ability. He would reportedly require a $7-10 million transfer fee.
Inter Miami finished in 11th place in the Eastern Conference this season, four spots out of the playoffs. Training camp opens Jan. 17 and the season opener is at home Feb. 26 against the Chicago Fire..
Individual match tickets for the 17 home games go on sale through ticketmaster.com beginning at 10 a.m. on Dec. 24. Fans can also call 305-428-0611 for more information.