Inter Miami finalizing deal with Paraguayan attacking midfielder Matias Rojas
The Inter Miami roster makeover continues.
In the span of 48 hours this week, the club traded right back DeAndre Yedlin to FC Cincinnati and transferred midfielder Jean Mota to Brazilian team Vitoria, clearing more than $1.5 million in salary. Miami also received $172,799 in General Allocation Money from Cincinnati for Yedlin and a reported transfer fee of $350,000 from Vitoria for Mota.
Two weeks ago, Inter Miami transferred midfielder Gregore to Brazilian club Botafogo, unloading his $961,250 salary. Excluding Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, the trio of Gregore, Yedlin and Mota were the three highest-paid players remaining on the Inter Miami roster from last season. Their departures cleared roughly $3 million in salary, which will be used to buy new players.
Miami is finalizing a deal with Paraguayan national team midfielder Matias Rojas, according to a league source with knowledge of the negotiations. He is expected to sign in the coming days. At least one other player could join in addition to Rojas before the MLS primary transfer window closes April 23.
Rojas, 28, became a free agent after leaving Brazilian club Corinthians due to a contract dispute over unpaid wages, much of it in image rights, according to Brazilian news reports. Journalist Cesar Luis Merlo was the first to report the news.
Rojas was reportedly in talks with Argentine club Boca Juniors and some Mexican teams, but chose to sign with Miami, where he will play alongside Diego Gomez, his teammate on the Paraguayan national team.
The left-footed attacking midfielder registered three assists in 30 games since joining Corinthians last year. Before that he played for Cerro Porteno in Paraguay, and then for Argentine clubs Lanus, Defensa y Justicia, and Racing Club.
Inter Miami has made 14 changes from its 2023 roster so far. The team is in first place in the Eastern Conference with two wins and a tie, and has outscored opponents 8-1. Miami takes a break from league play on Thursday to face Nashville SC on the road in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 (9 p.m., FS2) and then returns home to Chase Stadium to play Montreal on Sunday.
This story was originally published March 6, 2024 at 12:06 AM.