Blaise Matuidi says bout with COVID-19 led to his decision to join Inter Miami
A bout with COVID-19 helped sway midfielder Blaise Matuidi to leave Italian power Juventus and continue his career in the United States with Inter Miami.
Matuidi, the French World Cup winner who signed with Miami last week, revealed in an interview with L’Equipe newspaper that “the time had come for a change of direction” this summer after being quarantined from mid-March to early April with the coronavirus. Although he was asymptomatic, the scare had a profound effect on him.
“Being one of the first players to test positive for this virus made me reflect on the meaning of life,” he said.
“The first contact with Inter Miami was in December, but at the time, I said it was too early in my career. The Euros were coming up, and we didn’t have all these COVID problems. The way I saw it, I’d obviously stay at Juve.
“When they called me again in June, the context had changed. Staying in quarantine made my bond with my family stronger and made me realize I had to think more about them and what is best for my children. I looked back over my career and thought, what else are you looking for?”
He asked Juventus management to terminate his contract a year early and talks with Miami heated up.
Matuidi, 33, is happy to be reunited with Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham, who was his teammate at Paris Saint Germain in 2013. Matuidi is known for his ball-winning and ability to link the defense with the attack, making players around him better. The club is still shopping for a prolific goal scorer to fill the final Designated Player slot.
“He’s undoubtedly a player of a very high caliber,” Inter Miami coach Diego Alonso said on the team website. “We were monitoring him for a while and luckily we were able to close the deal.
“He’s a very dynamic player. It’s something we’ve been on the lookout for. A player that can help the team be more dynamic, that contributes quality in midfield and who can help us make a jump forward.
“He’s a versatile player who can play in several positions, be it centrally or out wide in midfield. That speaks to his ability. We are very happy with what he can provide for us on the pitch. Off the field, all the reports we received are exceptional. He’s a great guy, a great professional that will help us improve.”
Signing a player with Matuidi’s resume proves Inter Miami has big goals, Alonso said.
“Bringing in a World Cup-winning player that was playing for Juventus and still has a lot of good football to give shows the club’s ambition, the ambition of each one of us that are a part of this organization. We want winning players, players with a great present and that can help us build a great future so that we can compete against the best teams in MLS.”
Matuidi is not expected to be available for the resumption of the regular season Saturday at home against Orlando City (8 p.m., CBS4), as his visa is being finalized and he has to go through MLS-mandated COVID protocols.
Inter Miami TV Schedule
In other team news, rookie forward Robbie Robinson rejoined the team and is practicing after leaving the Orlando bubble in early July to deal with a personal matter. The club also confirmed Monday that home matches will be played without fans in the stands for the foreseeable future. The policy will be re-evaluated regularly. Fans can watch all six upcoming matches on TV:
Aug. 22, 8 p.m.: Inter Miami vs. Orlando City (CBS4, UNIMAS)
Aug. 26, 8 p.m.: Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United (My 33)
Aug. 30, 8:30 p.m.: Inter Miami at Nashville (My 33, UNIMAS)
Sept. 2, 7 p.m.: Inter Miami at Atlanta United (FS1)
Sept. 6, 8 p.m.: Inter Miami vs Nashville (FS1)
Sept. 12, 7:30 p.m.: Inter Miami at Orlando City (CBS4, UNIMAS)
This story was originally published August 17, 2020 at 12:53 PM.