Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Team signs Brazilian defensive midfielder Gregore
Inter Miami CF added reinforcements in the midfield with their latest roster addition, signing 26-year-old central midfielder Gregore on Wednesday.
Gregore, who’s joining Inter Miami from Brazilian Serie A club Esporte Clube Bahia, will occupy one of the team’s international roster slots. He has a four-year contract with Inter Miami, with an option for an additional year.
Multiple media outlets, including The Athletic, reported that Inter Miami signed Gregore with targeted allocation money — a Major League Soccer mechanism that allows teams to sign players whose annual salary exceeds the maximum budget charge.
While Inter Miami’s recent signing of center back Ryan Shawcross appears to be one pushed for by new coach Phil Neville, the addition of Gregore can be directly linked to Chris Henderson, Inter Miami’s chief soccer officer and sporting director.
The Seattle Sounders were pursuing the Brazilian defensive midfielder last year while Henderson was the club’s vice president of soccer and sporting director.
“Gregore is a player who has been on my radar for some time, and we are very pleased to bring him to Inter Miami ahead of the 2021 MLS season,” Henderson said in a statement. “He has a great engine and brings balance and stability to the central midfield.”
Gregore made 101 Brazilian Serie A appearances with Bahia over the last three seasons and played 14 matches in the international club competition CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana.
He started in all 32 of his Serie A appearances for Bahia during the 2020-21 season.
Gregore originally joined Bahia in January 2018 on loan permanently transferring to Bahia later that year. Gregore has played for Santos’ B-team (2016-17 — loan), São Carlos (2015-18) and Joseense (2012-15) during his senior career.
Gregore is expected to slot next to Blaise Matuidi as Inter Miami’s starting defensive midfielders. He’ll provide strong tackling and ball-hawking skills to the team’s central midfield — an area of the game Inter Miami struggled in last year — while also bringing the passing and comfort with the ball at his feet that’s necessary to help push the team in the attack.
Inter Miami have 26 players signed to their roster ahead of the 2021 season. They’re expected to start preseason training camp on March 8, with the 2021 season kicking off on April 17.
Inter Miami’s 2021 roster
Goalkeepers (3): Drake Callender, Dylan Castanheira, John McCarthy;
Defenders (7): Nico Figal, Ian Fray, Leandro González Pirez, Christian Makoun, Dylan Nealis, Patrick Seagrist, Ryan Shawcross;
Midfielders (13): George Acosta, Edison Azcona, Jay Chapman, Gregore, Federico Higuain, Blaise Matuidi, Lewis Morgan, Matías Pellegrini, Josh Penn, Rodolfo Pizarro, Brek Shea, Victor Ulloa, Felipe Valencia;
Forwards (3): Julián Carranza, Gonzalo Higuaín, Robbie Robinson.