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Lionel Messi's Inter Miami have confirmed the loan signing of 26-year-old David Martínez. The Paraguayan defender has been loaned from his parent club River Plate until July 2025, with an option to make the transfer permanent at the conclusion of the loan tenure.
After making the move to the Herons, Martínez said (via Inter Miami's official website):
"I'm really happy and excited to join Inter Miami. I was thrilled about the opportunity to come here. Finally, it's happened, and I'm really happy to get this new chapter in my career started. The goal here is to help the team, keep growing, and hopefully, win some titles."
Fans took to social media to share their opinions on the River Plate graduate's loan move to Lionel Messi's team. Most of them were happy with the addition of a quality defender to the squad and expressed hope that Martinez will succeed at his new club. Here are some of their reactions on X:
One fan wrote:
"Good signing this will surely improve the backline 👍"
Another added:
"Yes finally a defender."
"Finally a CB," chimed in another fan.
"David is the best 👌"
"Better than all Inter Miami’s present CBs."
"Bienvenido David! 💗🖤"
While another wrote:
"Ah well, another Paraguayan in Miami, that already confirms Rojas, Gomes and Martinez as fundamental pieces, I hope he breaks it like his two compatriots."
Prior to joining the Herons, David Martínez represented River Plate and Defensa y Justicia since making his professional debut in 2018 and has recorded 118 appearances at the club level. He has also been capped 11 times by Paraguay.
Hercules Gomez criticizes Inter Miami for not detailing extent of Lionel Messi's injury
Former USMNT forward Hercules Gomez has slammed the Herons for not providing details about Lionel Messi's injury situation. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner suffered a ligament tear in La Albiceleste's 1-0 extra-time win over Colombia in the 2024 Copa America final on July 14.
Gomez criticized the Major League Soccer side for not providing more clarity about Messi's situation and recovery, and said (as per Futbol Americas via Clutch Points):
"It is complete horsec**p that they won’t give you an outline on what’s exactly going on and how long it will be. Other teams have to give you that. Inter Miami staying tight-lipped and not saying anything, that to me is embarrassing for MLS."
"We’ve always heard things and seen things from MLS from the beginning, the LA Galaxy got away with these things, LAFC got away with those things, Toronto here, Seattle there, but when it comes to Inter Miami, you’ve not only proven to get away with it, you look the other away, you publicly look the other way,” he added.
It seems unlikely that Lionel Messi to be available for Inter Miami's Leagues Cup title defense, which begins on Saturday, July 27, against Puebla.
