Blaise Matuidi swapping Juventus for MLS side Inter Miami

Blaise Matuidi is coming to Inter Miami after a decade of stardom in Europe.

French defensive midfielder Blaise Matuidi, currently a starter in Italian champions Juventus, has won just about everything a player can win during his time in Europe, and he’s decided that he wants to tackle one last big challenge in the USA before he hangs up his boots for good.

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that the 33-year-old French international is bringing an end to his venture in European soccer, instead choosing to join David Beckham’s MLS side Inter Miami. Matuidi and Beckham played together briefly on Paris Saint-Germain in 2013.

https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1292801273348206597

Matuidi could become the best defensive midfielder in MLS.

While Matuidi broke into the soccer world with Troyes and French side Saint-Etienne, he didn’t hit star status until a move to PSG in 2011. Matuidi played 295 matches for the French giants, netting 33 times and winning Ligue 1 four times while establishing himself as one of the best deep-lying playmakers in the world due to his pace, physicality, and razor-sharp passing. He moved to Juventus in 2017.

In Turin, the Frenchman won three Serie A titles while playing in 133 games for the Bianconeri. Even though Didier Deschamps has often deployed him on the wing when Matuidi has been capped for his native France, he remained just as effective. A member of the squad that won the World Cup in 2018, he has 84 caps and nine international goals to his name.

Inter Miami, who fell to NYCFC in the MLS is Back tournament, will start their season on August 22 against Orlando City in what will be their inaugural season. While Miami’s star signing might not be ready for that game, it won’t take long for him to make his mark on the squad.

Older, defensive-minded European midfielders don’t have the most sterling record in America, but Matuidi’s versatility, ability to see the game, and rock-solid defense should help him quickly assume a starting role in Miami and set the tone in defense for an inexperienced group.