Inter Miami still making deals ahead of 2026 training camp. Here’s the latest.
Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates barely had a chance to decompress from their grueling 11-month season and MLS Cup championship.
The 2026 preseason kicks off next weekend, when players report for physicals. Training camp begins the week of Jan. 12 and the team embarks on a three-city South American tour later this month.
With the retirements of icons Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, Inter Miami’s front office has been busy reloading. The focus has been primarily on bolstering the defense.
The club announced on Saturday the signing of Argentine right back Facundo Mura through June 2029. Mura, 26, was a free agent after three seasons with Racing Club. He previously played for Estudiantes de la Plata and Atletico Colon. He represented Argentina in the 2019 U20 World Cup and the 2020 South American U20 championship.
Inter Miami is also finalizing a loan deal for 25-year-old Brazilian center back Micael from Palmeiras, according to a team source. He previously played for the Houston Dynamo and was one of the top MLS defenders. He signed a five-year contract with Palmeiras in 2025 for a reported $5 million transfer fee.
Last month, Inter Miami signed Spanish left back Sergio Reguilon as a replacement for Alba. Reguilon, a 28-year-old free agent, previously played for Real Madrid and Tottenham. He signed with Miami through 2027, with an extension option through 2028.
Dayne St. Clair, the 2025 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year with Minnesota United, also joined Inter Miami through the 2026 season with an option for the 2027 sprint season (which ends June 2027), the team announced Sunday. He was a free agent.
St. Clair, 28, plays for the Canadian national team and is in contention to be the starting keeper for the 2026 World Cup. St. Clair had a phenomenal 2025 season. He posted 10 clean sheets, conceded 30 goals in 30 matches and was a key reason the Loons finished fourth in the Western Conference and reached the conference semifinals.
On the international stage, St. Clair represented Canada at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, won a Concacaf championship (first place in 2021-22 Concacaf Final Round of FIFA World Cup Qualifiers), won a Concacaf Silver Medal with Canada (2022-23 Nations League), was a Concacaf semifinalist (2021) and represented Canada at one CONMEBOL Copa América (fourth place at USA 2024).
According to the source, Inter Miami also will retain goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo, who was on loan from Argentine club Lanus. Rios Novo signed with Miami in January 2025, spent most of the season as Oscar Ustari’s backup, was promoted to starter late in the season and excelled in the playoffs.
As far as the team’s attack, Uruguayan legend Luis Suarez, who turns 39 in January, signed for a final year. Tadeo Allende, who was on loan from Spanish club Celta de Vigo, is expected to remain with Inter Miami, according to the source. Allende scored an MLS-record nine goals during the playoffs.
Miami also selected five college players in the MLS Draft, led by defender Abdel Talabi of Bryant University, who was the 30th pick of the first round. The other Miami picks were: midfielder Kenan Hot (Duke, No. 32 pick), forward Mamadi Jiana (Bryant, No. 54), defender Alex Barger (Indiana, No. 60), and forward Maximilian Kissel (Vermont, No. 90).
Inter Miami kicks off a three-game South American preseason tour with a Jan. 24 game against Alianza Lima in Peru, followed by a Jan. 31 game against Atletico Nacional in Colombia and a Feb. 7 game against Barcelona de Guayaquil in Ecuador.
Miami opens the 2026 MLS season on the road Feb. 21 at Los Angeles FC and will play the first five games away from home while construction of Miami Freedom Park Stadium is completed.
The first home game in the new stadium is Apr. 4 against Austin FC. In mid-March, Inter Miami will compete in the Concacaf Champions Cup. They got a bye to the Round of 16 and will play at Nashville SC or Atletico Ottawa March. 11 in the first leg and return to Chase Stadium for the second leg Mar. 18.
Immediately after Inter Miami beat the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS championship game last month, coach Javier Mascherano said he hoped that would be a launching pad for future success.
“This should be a boost for the club, not just be satisfied with winning its first league title, but aiming for more,” he said. “I think the club has taken the right steps not just this year, but in recent years, and we should use this momentum for what’s ahead.”
Inter Miami managing owner Jorge Mas assured fans that the club would continue building for the future. “We lost two legends in Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, we already have replacements lined up, we have a DP slot open to add another player and the goal of this club for 2026 is to win the [Concacaf] Champions Cup and we want to go into that tournament with a supercharged roster.”
This story was originally published January 2, 2026 at 1:34 PM.