:format(webp)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/grupoclarin/ETYVHE36EZGJVOBAFPFN3G3VN4.jpg "Redondo, from Inter Miami, admired Messi from afar; now he is your partner")
FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida, USA (AP) — Not long ago, Federico Redondo watched from afar the performance of players like Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suárez in search of emulating them.
You now have a better point of view. Share a locker room with them.
It’s all happened very quickly for Redondo, a 21-year-old Argentine midfielder who signed a four-year contract with Inter Miami last month. The player, son of former Real Madrid and Milan national team member Fernando Redondo, was formally presented by his new club on Tuesday.
“I know that it is a team that is full of stars, that it is a very ambitious club, that is looking to achieve many titles, compete at the top and that caught my attention,” Redondo said. “In reference to Leo, it is something that has a lot of weight, right? “He is the best player in history and sharing the court with him is a dream.”
Inter Miami perceives short and long-term benefits with the signing of Redondo. He was brought in as a replacement for the season-ending injury of fellow Argentinian Facundo Farías, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in a preseason game in January.
And in a squad led by four players around 35 years old – Alba is the youngest of the big four and will turn that age this month – it is important to accumulate young talent for the future.
“We believe in his potential,” said sporting director Chris Henderson when Inter Miami hired Redondo.
Adapting to a locker room full of stars is not going to be difficult for Redondo. Finally, he has been surrounded by famous footballers throughout his life.
His father was named UEFA Footballer of the Year in the 1999-2000 season. Messi won that award in 2008-2009 and achieved it twice more after he was renamed UEFA Man of the Year in 2011.
Another winner of the recognition is David Beckham, part of the ownership group of Inter Miami. He achieved it in 1998-99, a season before Fernando Redondo received the trophy.
Redondo has some goals for this season. He would like to play for Argentina at the Paris Olympics (and he has the opportunity to do so).
He also knows that Inter Miami has high expectations for this campaign, including what would be its first MLS title.