Alejandro Pozuelo feels right at home on eve of his Inter Miami debut vs. Charlotte FC
Alejandro Pozuelo will make his highly anticipated Inter Miami debut on Saturday night in a home game against Charlotte FC. Judging by the enthusiasm at training Friday morning, the arrival of the 2020 MLS MVP has energized the team as it tries to rebound from back-to-back losses.
Pozuelo, the 30-year-old Spanish playmaker, was traded to Miami from Toronto FC on July 7. He was brought in to add vision, creativity and productivity to a Miami offense that is tied for last in the league with 19 goals in 19 games.
His $4.69 million salary ranks fourth in the league, just behind Inter Miami forward Gonzalo Higuain’s $5 million. Club executives, players and fans hope his pairing with Higuain, forward Leo Campana and the team’s speedy wingers will help the team climb the standings into the playoff zone.
Heading into Saturday’s game (8 p.m., My33), Miami is in 11th place in the Eastern Conference with 22 points, four spots and four points shy of Charlotte, which sits in the final playoff spot with 15 games to go.
“Pozuelo has given the squad a real boost,” coach Phil Neville said.
Veteran midfielder Victor Ulloa speaks highly of his new teammate. Former Inter Miami playmaker Fede Higuain, now a youth coach with the club, called Pozuelo the best player he faced in 10 years in the league. Neville said during a conversation with Philadelphia Union coach Jim Curtin at their game Saturday, Curtin said: “Good luck with Pozuelo, you’ll get in the playoffs.”
Neville said “those comments show you the respect he has in this league. He comes with an aura, with a reputation and now he has to deliver.”
Pozuelo is likely to start against Charlotte.
“In the second half of the season, we don’t have much time to wait around,” Neville said. “I think he’s ready. His experience will cover up some of the physical shortcomings he might have in these next five or six days (from lack of training with the team). His connection in training with Gonzalo and (Jean) Mota has been really good.”
Although South Florida’s heat and humidity will take getting used to, Pozuelo is a native of Sevilla, which is in southwest Spain, so he is delighted to be back in a warm climate after three seasons in Toronto.
He met his girlfriend of nine months, Katherine, while vacationing in Miami. She is from Miami and her family lives in Miami, so Pozuelo said Inter Miami was his first choice when a move from Toronto came up.
“I feel at home here because my girlfriend, whose mother is Venezuelan and stepfather is Cuban, is from Miami and this is such a Latin city,” Pozuelo said. “Everybody here speaks Spanish, so the transition has been very easy. And I love hot weather, beaches, and swimming pools. I hope to be here many years.”
His parents and the two eldest of his three sons (ages 7 and 5) flew in from Spain to help him get acclimated. The youngest, who is one and a half, stayed back with his ex-wife.
Pozuelo has been most surprised by the unity and positive spirit in the Inter Miami locker room.
“Normally when a team drops in the standings, the locker room is demoralized, but here it’s the reverse,” he said. “I have been so impressed that this group is happy, jokes around, has fun, it’s very different from Toronto. That’s why I feel we will turn things around because everyone is unified.”
Higuain, who was displaced by Campana in the starting lineup, may have worked his way back into the Starting XI after his left-footed blast in a 2-1 loss to the Union on Wednesday. Neville hinted Higuain might start Saturday, maybe alongside Campana.
“With goal scorers, once they score one they go on a bit of a run and you’ve got to give them the platform to score goals, have impact,” Neville said. “When Gonzalo came in the other night, he looked really sharp. His goal was world-class. He had one shot from outside the box and with his weaker foot went to the top left corner. So, he has that quality.”
Pozuelo is eager to link up with Campana, Higuain and the other players in Miami’s attack.
“We all know quality like Gonzalo’s doesn’t disappear, he still has it, and it’s very important that he stays involved and motivated,” Pozuelo said. “I am excited to help him and the team score more goals. I always had a great relationship playing against his brother, and Gonzalo and I have already spoken about how we can do special things together.”
This story was originally published July 15, 2022 at 5:12 PM.