Coco Jean, who scored vs. Messi and Neymar in April, debuts for Inter Miami on Saturday
There is only one player in Major League Soccer who played — and scored — against Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe this season. His name is Corentin “Coco” Jean, and he will make his debut for Inter Miami at home Saturday night against FC Cincinnati.
The 27-year-old forward/winger, who spent the past three years with French first division club RC Lens, signed a three-year contract with Miami on June 29 and finally received his visa. He was brought in to inject creativity and productivity to the team’s offense, which has struggled to score all season.
Inter Miami ranks last in the East and second to last in the league with 22 goals in 21 games.
Jean is eager to help add to that total as the team heads into a critical stretch of games that could make or break its playoff chances.
His last goal was memorable. It was an 88th-minute equalizer against Paris Saint Germain on April 23 after Messi had scored first. Jean, who was coming off a two-month injury, prevented the star-studded PSG team from a victory in front of its fans at Parc des Princes.
Jean has not played a game since May, and says he is still short of 100 percent fitness, but he is ready to begin this new stage of his career. He spent most of July stuck in Paris awaiting his immigration papers, and joined the squad for training this week. Inter Miami coach Phil Neville likes what he has seen thus far.
Jean can be used as a right wing, left wing, playmaker or striker.
“He’s at a brilliant age where he’s coming up to his peak,” Neville said. “He’s very versatile. He can play 7, 11, 10, as a 9, as well. He’s really quick over 5 to 10 meters. He can beat people 1v1. He’s got really good delivery from set plays and from wide areas. And he’s just got that big-game experience that we feel will give us that composure in the final third.”
Neville feels the addition of Jean and Alejandro Pozuelo, the 2020 MLS MVP who recently joined from Toronto FC, will add to the attack. He also likes Jean’s demeanor.
“He is a real happy guy, good locker room guy, and he’s a winner,” Neville said.
Jean said the moment his agent got a call from Inter Miami, he was intrigued.
“I was with Lens, getting to the end of my contract… It’s been a goal of mine later in my career to play in MLS, so I’m very excited to be here and add my qualities to the team,” Jean said.
He watched Inter Miami’s recent matches from Paris and feels he will be a good fit.
“The team definitely has a lot of quality, the league has parity, so each match is difficult,” he said. “I like to have space to work with, so the style of play at Miami is favorable for me. I enjoy playing on the left or the right, but my preferred position is on top as one of the two strikers.”
He said he practiced primarily as a winger supporting forwards Gonzalo Higuain and Leo Campana in the past few days.
Jean is a native of Blois, a French town in the heart of the Loire Valley. He played for Troyes, Monaco and Toulouse before moving to Lens in 2020.
His best season came in 2014-15 as he scored 10 goals to help his team to promotion to the top flight.
Jean is itching to play Saturday but stressed that he has not played a game in two months. He also is still getting used to South Florida’s oppressive summer heat and humidity.
“I feel ready, but I am not 100 percent and still have work to do because it’s been two months since I played a match at the end of the French season,” he said. “The heat here is different from France, and it is something I have to get accustomed to. I’ve only heard good things [about MLS], but also know some of the challenges — travel, time changes, the heat is something I have to get used to, but it’s an exciting challenge for me. I can’t wait to get to work.”
Miami is in 11th place in the Eastern Conference with 13 games remaining in the regular season. The team is three points and four spots shy of the final playoff spot, which is held by Cincinnati, making Saturday’s game crucial.
Academy players named to All-Star Game
Three Inter Miami Academy players and one coach were invited to the inaugural MLS NEXT All-Star Game Aug. 10 in Blaine, Minnesota. Defender Israel Boatwright, 17; midfielder Benjamin Cremaschi, 17; and attacker Kobi Thomas, 16, will be managed by Inter Miami Academy U-17 team head coach Javier Morales on the East team.
“We’re extremely proud of Benjamin, Israel, Kobi and Javier. This recognition is a reward for all their hard work and dedication throughout the season. We know they will represent us well in Minnesota and continue to excel as they progress in their respective careers,” said Inter Miami CF Academy Director Craig Dalrymple.
Ten Academy players were called up to their national teams this season and nine made their professional debuts with Inter Miami CF II.