Miami (AFP)
For its first season in the North American Championship (MLS), Miami is doing it big: the Florida club, one of the co-owners of which is David Beckham, on Friday recruited Argentina's Gonzalo Higuain, a month after offered the French Blaise Matuidi.
“Welcome to Inter Miami, Gonzalo Higuain,” Inter Miami tweeted, accompanying a video showing goals scored by Higuain, nicknamed “Pipita”.
"We are pleased to have finalized this contract with Gonzalo and to have added an experienced and efficient goalscorer to our squad who has played in the best clubs and leagues," club sporting director Paul McDonough said in a statement.
"Our owners have always aimed to bring elite players to Inter Miami, but also people who have the ambition to mark the history of football in North America. We found that with Gonzalo", he added.
After a largely disappointing stint in the Juventus jersey, Higuain at 32 will try to bounce back in MLS, often considered a second zone championship for players at the end of the race in major European championships.
The day before, Juve had announced the amicable termination of the contract of their Argentine striker, who arrived in August 2016 from Naples for 90 million euros.
Since his arrival, Higuain has scored 66 goals in all competitions for club Turin despite having loaned out to AC Milan and Chelsea in recent seasons, making him Juventus' second-highest scorer during this period.
Under the Florida sun, Higuain will be reunited with a former Juve teammate, the 2018 French world champion Blaise Matuidi who crossed the Atlantic last month at the age of 33.
He will also find his older brother Federico who already plays in MLS under the jersey of DC United.
"My goal is to pass on all my experience acquired in Europe to help the team grow. I feel good," he said.
Miami, which has joined the top North American elite this season, is currently 14th and last in the MLS Championship Eastern Conference with eight points from eleven matches.
© 2020 AFP