Catching up with Argentine Inter Miami players Matias Pellegrini and Julian Carranza
It has been quite a year so far for Julian Carranza and Matias “Mati” Pellegrini, the Argentine 19-year-olds who were the first players signed by Inter Miami last summer. Their decision to join Major League Soccer finally feels real with training camp just a few days away.
They moved into their South Florida apartments last week, did some exploring around Miami, enjoyed Argentine cuisine at Graziano’s and La Barra Grill, and were then whisked across the country to the Banc of California Stadium for two days of Major League Soccer preseason media and marketing obligations.
They were among 40 players brought in by the league to meet with 38 U.S. and international broadcast partners, sponsors, and national soccer media ahead of the opening of training camp next week. In between the interviews and photo shoots, they got to attend Thursday night’s NBA game between the Lakers and Orlando Magic.
For both players, the adjustment from the Argentine league to MLS has been going well so far.
Pellegrini, a rising star from Estudiantes who joined Inter Miami as a young Designated Player, said he feels at home in South Florida. He has gotten recognized while shopping in recent days. Pellegrini was a well-known player in the Argentine league, and his transfer to MLS reportedly required a transfer fee that approached $10 million.
“I speak zero English, and I want to learn the language, but I feel comfortable in Miami because so many people speak Spanish,” he said. “Fans have been coming up to me to say, `Hello, aren’t you the guy who played for Estudiantes?’ It makes me feel good to know there are fans here who are familiar with me and I am excited to get started with Inter Miami.’’
Carranza left his home in Cordoba at age 13 to join Banfield, which is 450 miles away, so he is accustomed to getting acclimated to new environments. Miami has been an easy move, he said, because of its large Latin American population.
“It is a beautiful city with so many people from Argentina and all of Latin America,” he said. “It is easy to find good Argentine food, and communicate with the fans. But I am working on my English, and little by little I am learning.”
Both players had options to join European clubs, but they chose, instead, to join the growing number of Argentine players in MLS. Last season, the league had 33 players from Argentina, more than any other foreign country except Canada, which had 39.
Among the Argentine players last season were Gonzalo “Pity” Martinez (Atlanta United), Eric Remedi (Atlanta United), Sebastian Blanco (Portland Timbers), Maxi Moralez (NYC), and Diego Valeri (Portland).
Remedi is one reason Carranza decided to come to MLS.
“I watched MLS on T.V. in Argentina, followed the playoffs, and I knew some of the players in the league,” Carranza said. “When Inter Miami first called, it was a little bit strange because it’s a new team that I knew nothing about, but I spoke to Eric Remedi and he encouraged me to come to MLS. He said I would love it because the people are nice and the league treats you really well.
“Also, the league is getting more competitive every day and I wanted to be part of that.”
Pellegrini agreed that the growth of the league and success of other Argentine players intrigued him. And having soccer icon David Beckham as a team co-owner was a bonus.
“I knew about MLS and how it is growing, so when they called I was very interested,” Pellegrini said. “I like the way Paul (McDonough, Inter Miami’s sporting director) was putting the team together and the way they are doing things. I am very impressed with what I have seen so far.”
Both players marveled at the Banc of California Stadium, where Inter Miami opens its inaugural season Mar. 1 against Los Angeles FC.
Blanco said he was happy to see two young countrymen joining the league. “I have been watching Inter Miami’s moves with interest. I see they are brining young players, which is a plus for the league. I know of Julian and Mati. I have never played against them, but they play at a high level already at such a young age. They will be great in Miami, a market with a very large Argentine community.”
This story was originally published January 16, 2020 at 3:24 PM.