Inter Miami made a slew of impressive signings this winter from Luis Suarez to Julian Gressel to Nicolas Freire.
The Herons have bulked out the rest of the squad surrounding Lionel Messi and company with quality options that have elevated the overall strength of Inter Miami to quite some level.
And the aforementioned Suarez has been an inspired signing for Inter Miami, with the former FC Barcelona and Liverpool star taking to life in MLS like a duck to water.
Expert says new Inter Miami signing has been just as important as Luis Suarez
Yet speaking on MLS Extratime, league expert Matt Doyle made the claim that Argentine defender Freire has arguably been the more important signing for Inter Miami, even more so than the likes of Suarez.
Doyle said when detailing Freire’s importance for Inter Miami since signing: “When Freire has been available, he’s elevated this team on both sides of the ball.
“Not only is he just a really solid defender, but he’s better in distribution than Aviles or Kryvtsov, and that gets Inter Miami in a rhythm through midfield.
“He’s been maybe the second most important player on this team, maybe third if you consider Luis Suarez who has been unbelievable. But he’s been the big difference-maker out of that back four.”
Nicolas Freire importance can’t be laughed off
Whilst an argument can be made that Suarez is more important for Inter Miami than Freire, the 30-year-old defender can’t be shrugged off as some mere afterthought.
The Argentine has brought real steel to the Inter Miami defense that has been lacking for some time, with the Herons at points looking like a team that can hold its own against good opposition.
If a permanent deal can be arranged at the end of the year, Freire could be used as a defender to build a whole new backline around, such is the center-back’s defensive quality.