Gregore, Kelvin Leerdam join team for training
Two of Inter Miami CF’s latest additions have joined the team for the final two weeks of preseason training camp.
Gregore and Kelvin Leerdam joined the team for practice Friday after completing their quarantine periods per Major League Soccer’s COVID-19 protocols.
Inter Miami signed Gregore from Brazilian Serie A club Esporte Clube Bahia in late February. The 27-year-old central midfielder arrived in South Florida from Brazil last week after receiving his visa.
Leerdam signed with Inter Miami as a free agent last Tuesday. The 30-year-old right back was on international duty with the Suriname men’s national team for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. Leerdam played the full 90 minutes and recorded an assist in his debut for Suriname in their 3-0 win against the Cayman Islands on March 24 in Paramaribo, Suriname. He played the full match again for Suriname in their 6-0 victory versus Aruba on March 27 at IMG Academy in Bradenton.
Offseason acquisitions who have yet to join the team for training are left back/left winger Joevin Jones and center back Ryan Shawcross.
Jones was with the Trinidad and Tobago men’s national team last week for their World Cup qualifying matches. He posted a picture of him in the car with Leerdam, his former Seattle Sounders teammate, on their way to South Florida on his Instagram story earlier this week.
Like Gregore, Shawcross was waiting to receive his visa before flying to South Florida. Shawcross signed with Inter Miami in late February and last played for Stoke City.
Kieran Gibbs, the Premier League left back Inter Miami signed last week, won’t be eligible to play for Inter Miami until July 1 — after his contract with West Bromwich Albion expires.
Inter Miami are training at their facility in Fort Lauderdale for the final two weeks of the preseason after returning to South Florida earlier than expected due to their three preseason friendlies scheduled for this week at IMG Academy being canceled “out of an abundance of caution for the health and safety of players and staff.”
The team’s opener versus the LA Galaxy is scheduled for April 18 at Inter Miami CF Stadium.
Inter Miami have previously said that they plan on hosting a final preseason match next week. The details for the friendly — the opponent and whether the scrimmage will be open to fans — are expected to be announced soon.