Marcos Rojo turns down chance to play with Leo Messi and Inter Miami

Inter Miami know that they must strengthen their squad to be able to compete on all fronts in 2024. Star forward Lionel Messi has reportedly recommended that the Florida side sign Marcos Rojo, the Boca Juniors central defender who has experience in Europe, and who for many years was a member of the Argentina national team.

Messi has already convinced some of his former team-mates such as Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, as well as his compatriots Facundo Farias and Tomás Avilés to join the club and the last player he convinced was Luis Suárez, his good friend and former Barcelona team-mate.

Rojo did not, however, respond to Messi’s call and is set to stay with Boca for next season. According to Argentine outlet La Nación, Rojo met with club president Juan Roman Riquelme to tell him about the offer that had arrived from the United States and Riquelme later asked him to stay as he is an important part of the squad.

Defence a priority

With Rojo’s refusal to join the North American club in the winter transfer window, Miami’s priority is clear: they want to reinforce their squad with a quality central defender, especially after the departure of Kamal Miller to the Portland Timbers.

The Canadian centre-back, who was an important part of the squad that won the Leagues Cup, is on his way to Phil Neville’s side for $635,000.

As it stands, Avilés and Sergii Kryvtsov are the starting centre-backs for Miami, although it is hoped that in the winter transfer window, they will be able to add an experienced player to shore up an area in which they struggled last season.