Football: Blaise Matuidi leaves Juve for Inter Miami

"Blaisou" crosses the Atlantic. The French world champion made official on Thursday August 13 his departure for Inter Miami and Major League Soccer (MLS) to meet David Beckham, his former teammate at Paris Saint-Germain and co-owner of the club. But his desire to leave Europe for a second-class championship questions less than a year before the Euro football.

At 33 years old and for the first time in his career, Matuidi, passed through Saint-Étienne (2007-11) and Paris SG (2011-17), will become the star player of his new team.

I made my decision a few weeks ago to join @intermiamicf, rise to my friend David Beckham's challenge and win new trophies there. My family and I can't wait 👊🏾⚽🇺🇸🦩 #GiveItAll
Full interview 👇🏾 @bros_stories https://t.co/he4qR0mG2A pic.twitter.com/kLRVi5RoTE

Inter Miami, who are making their MLS debut this season, struck a blow by offering themselves the 2018 world champion, just crowned Italian champion with Juventus for the third consecutive year.

In Florida, "Blaisou" will meet David Beckham, his former teammate at Paris SG, who is one of the co-owners of Inter Miami and especially his figurehead.

"Designated Player" of the franchise

 "I am so happy to welcome my friend Blaise to Inter Miami. He is an exciting and gifted player, a good person too," said the former England international. “To have a Blaise Quality World Champion on our new team is a source of pride for us owners and our fans alike.”

"For me, personally, seeing a former team-mate join this club is very special," admitted the former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder.

"Blaise is one of the best midfielders of his generation," added Paul McDonough, the club's sporting director. "His level of world standing and his leadership will be invaluable assets for our club."

With Matuidi, Inter Miami considerably expands a squad without much relief with American and Canadian internationals as "stars".

✍️ 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 ✍️

Welcome to Inter Miami, @MATUIDIBlaise! pic.twitter.com/clBmlWUna1

If this transfer is undoubtedly a very good operation for Inter Miami who could not give him, during the season, the status of "Designated Player" (the best paid players around whom a team is built, to the number of three) and for the MLS which remains, despite the passages of Henry, Ibrahimovic, Gerrard or Rooney, a second zone championship, the choice of Matuidi does not fail to question.

Will Matuidi be at the Euro?

The former Parisian, who still had a year's contract with Juve, had become, according to the Italian press, undesirable in the eyes of the Piedmont club's new coach, Andrea Pirlo.

In recent weeks, he had occupied the substitutes' bench a little more often, barred in particular by his compatriot Adrien Rabiot, as during the elimination in the knockout stages of the Champions League against Lyon last week.

To have been a member of the @juventusfc family is a dream come true, an honor. I discovered an incredible institution, teammates who have become more than that. I will always remain your number 1 fan, or rather number 14 🤍🖤 Thank you, really 🙌🏾 # FinoAllaFine pic.twitter.com/xGEURvBB7i

Will he compromise with this transfer his participation in Euro-2020, postponed to June 2021?

Not necessarily. Since the coronation in Russia in 2018, the coach of the Blues, Didier Deschamps, has always maintained great confidence in his eleven-type, and even more in his executives of which Matuidi is part.

For example, he continued to select midfielder Steven Nzonzi despite his departure for Galatasaray, and striker Olivier Giroud remained indisputable despite his almost total absence of playing time with Chelsea last fall.

With AFP

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