By Official Florida FC
The Miami Herald, and other outlets, have reported Inter Miami is close to signing former MLS MVP Josef Martinez.
Martinez has scored 98 goals in six MLS seasons. He produced nine goals and four assists in 1,456 minutes last year for Atlanta United.
He has not been as prolific since he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the 2020 season opener. However, Inter Miami needs a forward after Gonzalo Higuain’s retirement. Higuain led Inter Miami with 16 goals in all competitions in 2022.
Leonardo Campana scored 11 non-penalty goals for Inter Miami last season. The Herons were 6-1-2 in all competitions when the 22-year-old Ecuadorian scored. But, one-man attacks are not competitive in MLS anymore.
Inter Miami does not have anyone on its current roster who scored more than five goals last year.
Inter Miami had 38.1 expected goals for non-penalty kicks last year, which was 22nd in MLS. The 1.38 goals per game the Herons scored in the 2022 season was the most in the club’s three-year run in MLS; however, it was the tied for 16th in the league last year with New England and Seattle.
Then again, Seattle won the CONCACAF Champions League last year and New England won the 2021 Supporter’s Shield. Inter Miami has yet to win anything yet.
Perhaps, Martinez may be the key to fixing that.
