Inter Miami defender Nicolas Freire will miss the remainder of the 2024 season after suffering a torn right ACL in Saturday night’s 1-0 win vs. D.C. United, the team announced on Monday.
On Sunday, The 30-year-old Argentine wrote on Instagram that he was facing “perhaps the toughest moment as a footballer.”
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“It’s another battle that I have to face, just like I’ve done my entire life.”
Freire was signed in January on loan from Mexican side Pumas to solidify an Inter Miami backline that had been porous dating back to last season. After Inter Miami traded defender Kamal Miller to the Portland Timbers, Freire was brought in to partner with 19-year-old central defender Tomás Avilés. The duo had recently helped Inter Miami record two consecutive clean sheets.
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What does this mean for Inter Miami?
Freire’s injury is yet another setback for head coach Tata Martino. Inter Miami had lost Facundo Farías to an ACL injury in January. In late March, new signing Federico Redondo suffered a left LCL injury in training. In April, Paraguayan Diego Gómez was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain after enjoying the beginnings of a breakout season. Winger Robbie Robinson has not featured at all in 2024 due to a calf injury he picked up in February.
Despite these injury woes, Inter Miami is in first place in the Eastern Conference and currently leading the Supporters’ Shield race.
Lionel Messi has had his own injury bouts this season, but has still managed to score 10 goals and provide 11 assists in 10 games. Perhaps surprisingly, Luis Suárez, 36, has not been slowed down by a significant injury. The Uruguayan has notched 11 goals and added 5 assists to start the year.
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Who will replace him in the lineup?
Ukrainian international Sergii Kryvtsov will likely step back into Inter Miami’s starting XI in place of Freire. Without Freire, Inter Miami has lost the advantage of playing with a left-footed center back, though Martino has tried left fullback Noah Allen as a central defender in a back three formation. Jordi Alba could also be considered as an option in that role.
If Martino decides that a left-footed player is crucial to Inter Miami’s ability to play out of the back, he may have to get creative.
(Photo: David Kirouac-USA TODAY Sports)