It’s official: Inter Miami loans midfielder Rodolfo Pizarro to Mexican club Monterrey
As expected, Inter Miami announced on Tuesday night that it loaned midfielder Rodolfo Pizarro to Monterrey of Mexico’s Liga MX for 2022 with an option to purchase.
Pizarro played for Monterrey before joining Miami as its first Designated Player in 2020. He played 47 games and started 38 for Miami, scoring seven goals with 12 assists. He scored the club’s first-ever goal and was the team’s first MLS All-Star selection.
Monterrey will cover most of his $3.35 million salary, and the move clears the maximum $612,500 in salary cap space for Inter Miami, which will use the money to improve the roster.
The deal does not include a loan fee, so it does not free up a DP spot for Miami, but if Pizarro does well and regains his spot on the Mexican national team, his value will increase, and Miami could sell him for a higher price in the future.
“This loan gives the Club more options to continue managing our roster. We are working tirelessly to acquire the right players that will help us attain our objectives moving forward,” said Inter Miami Chief Soccer Officer Chris Henderson. “We’re glad to have found an opportunity for Rodolfo to continue developing in Mexico and wish him well during his loan.”
Pizarro posted a goodbye on Instagram that read: “I have only words of gratitude for Inter Miami, the owners, staff, players and all who are part of this grand club. I am honored to have scored the club’s first goal, first MLS All-Star selection, and to have received so much love from the fans. We’ll see each other soon.”
Inter Miami is also expected to part ways with French midfielder Blaise Matuidi, according to league sources.
Although the 34-year-old French World Cup winner is a Designated Player and has one year left on his contract, he is not expected to be part of the team’s plans. Henderson and Coach Phil Neville, both of whom joined the club last winter, want to infuse the roster with youth, speed, and hunger after failing to make the playoffs last season.
Matuidi joined Miami from Juventus with much fanfare in the summer of 2020, but he did not live up to expectations or his $1.5 million salary. He was benched for parts of the 2021 season.
It is unknown whether Matuidi will retire, take an off-field job with the club or be dealt to another club, but he likely has played his last game in an Inter Miami jersey.
Training camp opens Jan. 17 and the season opener is at home Feb. 26 against the Chicago Fire.