Inter Miami Set to Transfer Midfielder Gregore to Botafogo: A Major Shake-Up in the Club
In a surprising turn of events, Inter Miami is reportedly finalizing a deal to transfer midfielder Gregore to Brazilian club Botafogo. Sources close to the deal have revealed that the fee for the transfer is around $2.8 million. This news comes after The Athletic reported that Inter Miami needed to shed salary and/or add allocation money to comply with roster regulations before the upcoming season.
The pending departure of Gregore is expected to have an impact on the club’s on-field quality. Since joining Inter Miami in 2021, Gregore has been a key player and was even the club’s captain before Lionel Messi’s arrival last summer. Known as one of the league’s top defensive midfielders, Gregore made 67 appearances for the team and was instrumental in their success. However, he missed most of the 2023 season due to injury.
The transfer of Gregore will not only help Inter Miami become cap compliant but also provide them with an opportunity to convert part of the transfer fee into allocation money, benefiting their cap health. Last season, Gregore was a designated player, which meant his salary hit the cap at a fixed figure. By removing his significant budget charge, Inter Miami can designate another player under that category without the need for additional allocation money.
MLS executive vice president Todd Durbin confirmed that Inter Miami is taking the necessary steps to ensure compliance with salary cap regulations. Durbin stated, “They will be compliant and are currently looking at what they need to do to make sure they will be so at the start of the season.” This reassurance from league officials should put Inter Miami fans’ minds at ease.
While specific roster rules and regulations for the 2024 season have not been announced by MLS, it is worth noting that in 2023, the salary budget for the senior roster was a base of $5.21 million. Designated players, like Gregore, hit the cap at the senior max budget charge, regardless of their actual salary. Allocation money, such as General Allocation Money (GAM) and Targeted Allocation Money (TAM), is provided to teams each year to help manage contracts and buy down salaries.
Inter Miami’s decision to transfer Gregore indicates their commitment to maintaining a balanced budget and complying with league regulations. However, the exact amount of allocation money required by the club is unknown to the public. Additionally, there is speculation about how much allocation money Inter Miami has left from previous years or borrowed from future seasons.
With the departure of Gregore, Inter Miami will have to rely on their remaining central midfielders to fill the void. The roster still includes talented players such as Sergio Busquets, Julian Gressel, Diego Gomez, Jean Mota, Ben Cremaschi, and David Ruiz. Furthermore, the team is reportedly finalizing a deal to sign highly-rated Argentine youth international Federico Redondo from Argentinos Juniors.
As Inter Miami navigates through the challenges of roster compliance and salary cap management, fans eagerly anticipate the start of the season and the team’s performance on the field. The transfer of Gregore to Botafogo marks a significant shake-up within the club, but it also presents an opportunity for new players to step up and make their mark. Only time will tell how this move will impact Inter Miami’s success in the upcoming season.