Inter Miami loans Gonzalez Pirez to River Plate, trades Makoun to Charlotte
Inter Miami’s roster reboot continued Monday when the club announced the departure of two of its top defenders. Miami loaned Leandro González Pirez to Argentine club River Plate through 2023 and traded Christian Makoun to expansion team Charlotte FC.
In exchange for Makoun, a much-improved young Venezuelan talent, Miami gets the No. 1 spot in the MLS Allocation Ranking. That top spot will allow Miami to get first dibs at a long list of select U.S. Men’s National Team players, youth U.S. National Team players, and former MLS players returning to the league after joining a non-MLS club for an outgoing transfer fee of $500,000 or more.
It is a chance for Miami to get a more proven player and the team also receives an undisclosed percentage of any future transfer fee for Makoun.
“This transaction helps us position the club in a positive way ahead of potentially exciting moves that will strengthen the roster. We would like to thank Christian for his services in these past two years and wish him the best in the future,” said Inter Miami chief soccer officer and sporting director Chris Henderson.
Makoun joined Inter Miami in August 2019 as the club’s third-ever signing. The Venezuelan went on to make 30 appearances, 25 of them starts, and scored two goals.
Meanwhile, River Plate will have the option to purchase the contract of Gonzalez Pirez, a Buenos Aires native who began his career at River Plate. He rose through the academy before making 35 senior appearances for the team from 2011 to 2013.
He was signed by Atlanta United in 2017, played 95 games for there and was a fan favorite. He joined Inter Miami in July 2020, made 46 appearances, all starts, and played 4,095 minutes for the team during the last two seasons. He scored two goals, had five assists and was threat on set pieces.
Known for his passion and aggressive style, Gonzalez Pirez led MLS with 15 yellow cards last season.
Miami needed to unload a few higher-priced players 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. Gonzalez Pirez made $849,996 last season.
“We continue to make moves with the intention of best positioning our roster moving forward, and we feel that this loan gives us options to do so. We’re also pleased for Leandro to be able to return to his former club and wish him well during his loan,” Henderson said.
The club is loading up on young talent for 2022 and expected to announce soon the signing of 24-year-old Swedish American defender Christopher McVey, who has been playing in Sweden. Jairo Quinteros, a 20-year-old Bolivian national team defender, is returning to Inter Miami after a loan to Bolivar.
Gonzalez Pirez and Makoun are among 10 Inter Miami players who started games last season who will not be back for the 2022 season.
Others who have left the club in the off season include Mexican playmaker Rodolfo Pizarro, one of Miami’s three designated players, who was loaned to Monterrey of Mexico’s Liga MX and Scottish winger Lewis Morgan, who was traded to the New York Red Bulls for $1.2 million in general allocation money.
French midfielder Matuidi, a designated player, is not in the team plans, according to sources, and his future with the club is uncertain. It is unknown whether he plans to retire, whether he will take an off-field role with the club or be shopped to another team.
In the past month the club also loaned Julian Carranza to Philadelphia Union, acquired Bryce Duke from Los Angeles FC and midfielder/fullback Mo Adams from Atlanta United for the rights to backup goalkeeper Dylan Castanheira, signed Brazilian midfielder Jean Mota from Santos and winger/forward Ariel Lassiter (son of former MLS star Roy Lassiter) from Houston Dynamo.
The club also re-signed veteran midfielder Victor Ulloa and is finalizing a deal to bring back winger/defender Brek Shea.
Federico Higuain retired and has been coaching at the Inter Miami youth academy. The club did not pick up contract options for Kelvin Leerdam, Jay Chapman and John McCarthy. Leerdam signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy.
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 are available through ticketmaster.com. Fans can also call 305-428-0611 for more information.
This story was originally published January 10, 2022 at 12:00 PM.