SOCCER Inter Miami signs Figal; Carranza injured
There was good news and bad news out of Inter Miami training camp Thursday.
First, the good news: The team announced the signing of Argentine center back Nicolás Figal via transfer from Club Atlético Independiente in Argentina’s top division. Also, Venezuelan midfielder/ defender Christian Makoun participated fully in training after joining camp on Tuesday.
The bad news? Julian Carranza, a talented 19year-old Argentine forward, injured his left foot in practice and was taken off the field in a golf cart. He is undergoing tests and the severity of the injury is being determined.
“We still don’t know the gravity of Julian’s injury,” coach Diego Alonso said.
Figal, 25, an experienced center who has been called up to Argentina’s national team, has been practicing with Inter Miami since preseason camp opened last week. The deal was finalized Thursday.
He was acquired using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM), so he will not count as one of the three allowed Designated Players. Since July 2015, in an effort to give teams more financial flexibility, MLS provides clubs with TAM, which are considered “funds strategically provided by the league to teams to add or retain players who will make an immediate impact on the field.”
TAM is generally used for players whose salaries are on the high end of the scale, but below $1.5 million.
Figal will occupy an international roster slot pending receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and P-1 Visa.
“Nico is just entering his prime as a player and has already shown impressive skill in defense,” Inter Miami sporting director Paul McDonough said. “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.”
Figal made his pro debut with Independiente at 19, and has spent the majority of his career with the club. He has played over 100 games, and led the team to the prestigious 2017 Copa Sudamericana and the 2018 Suruga Bank Championship titles.
While in Argentina, Figal faced new Inter Miami teammates Carranza and Matías Pellegrini. In August 2019, Figal got callups for the Argentine national team for matches against Chile and Mexico.
“I am very happy with my first impressions of the players,” coach Diego Alonso said. “I have been surprised with their attitude and performances we’ve seen. We’re very happy to see them improving day by day. We still have more players to join the group. Our directors are working hard to sign those players as the European transfer window closes.”
The European winter transfer window closes at 11 p.m. on Jan. 31, so teams across Europe and the Americas are scrambling to get deals done. Among the
Europe-based players linked to Inter Miami in recent weeks are Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint Germain), David Silva (Manchester City), Pedro (Chelsea) and Lewis Morgan (Celtic). Mexico-based players who could wind up in Miami include Rogelio Funes Mori and Dorlan Pabon, who played for Alonso at Monterrey.
Alonso said the focus this week at the Club Med training site and next week in Bradenton is for players to get adapted to each other and the coaches. The next step will be to implement more tactics and play friendlies to measure where the team is and where they need to improve.
Inter Miami has closeddoor scrimmages planned for Feb. 7 against the Charleston Battery and Feb. 12 against New York City FC. Preseason games in St. Petersburg against Philadelphia Union (Feb. 15, 4 p.m.) and Tampa Bay Rowdies (Feb. 22, 7 p.m.) are free and open to the public.
Makoun, who had been working out with a personal trainer in Venezuela awaiting his immigration paperwork, was delighted to join the team.
“I feel very happy to be with my teammates. There is a lot of excitement and happiness in the group. There are a lot of good vibes and I’m excited to be part of it now,” Makoun said. “My teammates seem like great people on and off the field.”
Makoun is looking forward to playing in front of South Florida fans, especially the local Venezuelan community.
“It fills me with happiness to know I will have the warmth of my people, to know there will be Venezuelans and other Hispanic fans in the crowd,” he said. “That motivates me.”
Goalkeeper Luis Robles, a member of the MLS Players Union executive board, was not in camp Thursday, as he was out of town negotiating the new collective bargaining agreement. The current CBA expires on Friday. The two sides announced Thursday afternoon that they agreed to extend talks another week until Feb. 7.
Michelle Kaufman: 305-376-3438, @kaufsports
Serge Ibaka scored 26 points, Kyle Lowry had 23 and Toronto held off host Cleveland for its ninth straight win. Norman Powell scored eight consecutive points in the final minute after Cleveland cut the lead to 105104. Powell hit a threepointer, scored on a layup after making a steal and sank three foul shots to seal the win.
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Suspensions: Jaren Jackson Jr. and Marko Guduric of the Memphis Grizzlies and Knicks guard Elfrid Payton were suspended one game without pay by the NBA on Thursday for their roles in an altercation between the teams.
New York’s Marcus Morris also was fined $35,000 not only for his role on the court but for his comments afterward, when he said Grizzlies forward Jae Crowder played with “female tendencies.”
Crowder was fined $25,000 for escalating the skirmish, which began when he stole the ball and shot a three-pointer, causing a frustrated Payton to shove him to the floor while he was in the air with 48 seconds left in the Grizzlies’ 127-106 victory at Madison Square Garden.
Payton was given a flagrant-2 foul and ejected.