Club makes signing of Argentina’s Figal official

PORT SAINT LUCIE — The waiting game is over — Nicolás Figal is officially a part of Inter Miami CF.

The club announced on Thursday it signed the Argentine center back via transfer from Club Atlético Independiente in Argentina’s top division using targeted allocation money, which allows for a club to sign a new player if his salary and acquisition costs are more than the maximum salary budget charge.

Figal has been training with the team since the club opened training camp on Jan. 20 at Barry University. He’ll occupy an international roster slot pending the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P-1 Visa. He won’t count as one of the team’s designated players, leaving midfielder Matías Pellegrini as the club’s lone designated player as of Thursday.

“Nico is just entering his prime as a player and has already shown impressive skill in defense,” Inter Miami sporting director Paul McDonough said in a statement. “He showed his quality playing in Argentina, winning important international competitions and being selected as one of the best defenders of his country. We’re happy to be able to bring him in and continue to shore up our backline.”

Inter Miami is expected to have five more international roster slots remaining with Figal’s signing. Pellegrini and forward Julián Carranza, both Argentines, have received green cards and will be classified as domestic players after originally signing with the club as international players.

The club officially has 24 players on its roster with Figal’s signing and after trading goalkeeper Bryan Meredith for Vancouver Whitecaps FC’s fourthround pick in the 2021 Major League Soccer SuperDraft on Wednesday. MLS club’s active rosters can make up to 30 players, with all 30 eligible for the 18-player game-day roster during the regular season and playoffs.

Figal made his professional debut with Independiente at 19. He made his first senior appearance in 2014 and recorded over 100 total appearances for Independiente. Figal helped lead Independiente to the 2017 Copa Sudamericana and the 2018 Suruga Bank Championship titles. He received two senior callups for the Argentine national team in August 2019 for the matches against

Chile and Mexico.

After concluding training on Friday, Inter Miami will head west to Bradenton for practices from Saturday through Feb. 6 before moving to its own complex in Fort Lauderdale for the first time from Feb. 7-14. The club has closed-door scrimmages scheduled against the Charleston Battery on Feb. 7, and against New York City FC on Feb. 12 before heading back west to Saint Petersburg for training from Feb. 15-23. Inter Miami will wrap up training camp at its facility during February’s final week.

The team begins the regular season March 1 at Los Angeles FC.

Injury watch

Carranza injured his left foot during Thursday’s practice and is being tested to determine how serious the injury is.

“We still don’t know the severity of his injury,” coach Diego Alonso said following Thursday’s practice.

Carranza, along with Pellegrini, was one of Inter Miami’s first signings after joining the club in July 2019. Inter Miami acquired the 19-year-old via transfer from Club Atlético Banfield.