Chelo Weigandt a step away from joining Inter Miami

Inter Miami have got the new season off to a flying start - the Herons top the Eastern Conference and have made it to the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter finals. Nevertheless, they are keeping a close eye on the market. According to journalist César Luis Merlo, Tata Martino will have a luxury reinforcement for the rest of the campaign - Marcelo Chelo Weigandt. The right-back is heading to Chase Stadium to complete a loan move from now until the end of the year with the option of a one-year extension. It is also reported that he will have a purchase option - for an undisclosed amount.

Before the operation goes through, he first must renew his contract with Boca Juniors.

Operation Weigandt

The Herons return to Argentina to reinforce what is an already highly competitive squad. After signing Federico Redondo as a replacement for the injured Facundo Farías, the technical direction headed by Chris Henderson got down to work to find a right-sided player. DeAndre Yedlin’s departure to Cincinnati as a means of balancing the accounts left a very difficult hole to fill. For the moment, it has been patched with Julian Gressel and Robert Taylor. Yedlin, the former captain of the team, was one of the heavyweights in the locker room and an undisputed first-choice for Martino, but the need to release the DP (Designated Player) was vital.

Chelo Weigandt’s arrival is seen as the low cost option considered by the pink board to strengthen the right-hand side of the team. During negotiations in Argentina, Inter Miami made enquiries about San Lorenzo for conditions for right-back Agustín Giay, one of the sensations of last season and an Under-20 international with Argentina. However, the Ciclón’s high asking price for its young star (10 million dollars net) forced the North Americans to look for other options.

Weigandt ended his contract with Boca at the end of the year and was looking for an exit from La Bombonera - preferably to MLS. He had dropped down the pecking order despite having shone during the Almirón period and presented Juan Román Riquelme’s board with a first offer of $150,000, which was rejected. The situation reached a critical point, where even the player’s father rallied against the Bostense board (“They prefer to lose money and say the easiest thing, always blaming the player and accusing him of being a mercenary”). Now, the youth team graduate will renew with Boca for three years, until 2027, and leave the club on a two-season loan (one fixed and one optional.)