Inter Miami coach Tata Martino expects a few more roster moves before 2024 season opener

Inter Miami fans can expect a few more roster changes before the start of the MLS season, according to coach Tata Martino.

The club added Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez and German-American wingback/midfielder Julian Gressel, and lost Canadian center back Kamal Miller in a trade with the Portland Timbers, where he was reunited with former Miami coach Phil Neville.

Martino said more moves are coming.

“It’s clear that with the departure of Kamal (Miller) to Portland we need a center back, that is a priority for us,” Martino said. “Then we have to see which players we may lose. With the arrivals of Luis and Julian we have two very good additions and we haven’t lost many players. Surely there will be more movement before the start of league play.”

Two names that have been linked to Inter Miami over the past month are 25-year-old Paraguayan center back David Martinez of Argentine club River Plate and 21-year-old Argentine midfielder Christian Medina of Boca Juniors, but their price tags may be too high for Inter Miami to fit within MLS roster guidelines.

Inter Miami opened camp over the weekend and heads to San Salvador later this week for the first preseason test Friday night against El Salvador’s national team.

Three days later, Miami will play against FC Dallas at Cotton Bowl Stadium, the only preseason game of seven against an MLS opponent. After that it’s on to a world tour including two matches in Saudi Arabia, one in Hong Kong and one in Tokyo. The final preseason game is Feb. 15 at home against Newell’s Old Boys of Argentina, the hometown team of Martino and Lionel Messi.

Inter Miami kicks off the MLS season Feb. 21 at home against Real Salt Lake.

Asked if entering this season with a star-studded roster and lofty expectations from fans is the most pressure he has felt in his career, Martino paused briefly and replied, “No.”

He then explained.

“I am in a place where I have the possibility to lead very good players, to have a competitive team that we are still forming,” he said. “Obviously, because of what we have there are responsibilities, obligations and what we have to do is fulfill those, like we did last year. Yes, the eyes of the world are focused on the enormous figures Inter Miami has on its roster, but the job of a coach goes beyond those players and it’s about getting results.”

Like last season, Martino addressed the issue of fans being disappointed when Messi and the other highest-profile players miss games due to injury or national team commitments.

“We have a responsibility to make sure the fans feel well represented on the field when our big stars aren’t playing,” Martino said. “If the fans know that for different reasons Leo (Messi) won’t be there or Busi (Sergio Busquets) won’t be there or Jordi (Alba), but we will have a very competitive team, that is an important message.

“The best players are usually on the field, but we also must make sure our team is healthy and can last an entire season. That was difficult last season, the issue of if we were selling more tickets or fewer tickets, people wanting to know who was playing. I would love for them to play every single game, but we can’t be worried about ticket sales. If they are healthy, they will play the majority of the games.”

Two players missing from the opening day of training camp were forward Robbie Robinson and midfielder Jean Mota. Robinson, who has been plagued by injuries since he arrived at Miami as the No. 1 draft pack in 2020, is again dealing with an injury and was working inside with the medical staff, according to Martino. Mota was back home in Brazil working on paperwork for his green card.

Martino said he doesn’t expect to change much tactically for the 2024 season, but does have higher expectations for the team as they will have a full preseason together. He said the team played better defensively when they used a three-man or five-man back line and he wants to maintain that flexibility rather than commit to a specific formation. Inter Miami conceded 54 goals in 34 games last season, which was second-most in the Eastern Conference.

Tickets for the friendly against Newell’s and the season opener against Real Salt Lake are available through the club website at intermiamicf.com and Ticketmaster. The team has not yet announced TV information for the seven preseason matches.