"He hasn’t been as good as I had hoped" - Pundit unhappy with Lionel Messi's Inter Miami teammate's performances
Pundit Matt Doyle has been disappointed with Lionel Messi's Inter Miami teammate Federico Redondo's performances for the Herons this season. The 21-year-old joined Inter Miami from Argentinos Juniors this year for a reported $10 million fee.
With 64 points from 30 games, the Herons are at the top of the MLS Eastern Conference table and on their way to making history. Ten points from their final four fixtures of the regular season will make them record-season points holders, beating New England Revolution's 73 points from the 2021 season.
According to Doyle, Federico Redondo's form has been the only blemish for Inter Miami in their otherwise brilliant campaign. Speaking about the youngster on Extratime, Matt Doyle said (via Inter Miami News):
"Federico Redondo, I ended up having him sixth [on the 22 Under 22 list], and I loved this guy coming into the league. His father is one of my favorite players of all time, but he hasn’t been as good as I had hoped."
Doyle added:
“He was terrible this weekend, and that game was fresh in my head when I was making my list. That said, he’s a starter for a team that’s going to end up on 73 or 74 points, he was sold for $10m for a reason.”
Recent reports suggest that River Plate are interested in signing Redondo, and the midfielder could be shipped out in January if he doesn't justify his hefty price tag over the next few months.
Lionel Messi has already chosen his next destination after Inter Miami - Reports
Lionel Messi reportedly wants to return to Newell's Old Boys at the end of the 2025 MLS season, when his contract with Inter Miami will expire. The Argentine has been a revelation for the Herons since joining the club in 2023. In 32 games for the Fort Lauderdale outfit, Messi has registered 27 goals and 17 assists - an average of 1.37 G/A per game.
Per Spanish news outlet El Nacional (via Mirror), Lionel Messi wants to run down his contract with the Herons and join his boyhood club Newell's Old Boys. In a 2016 interview, Messi had even stated his desire to go back to his childhood side, saying:
"If I go back to Argentina tomorrow, which I would love, the club I would be play for would be Newell's," Messi said (via Spanish magazine El Planeta Urbano).
The Argentine played there as a child prodigy from 1995 to 2000 before flying to Spain and joining Barcelona's famed youth academy, La Masia.