Magic City Soccer: Abel Iraola, Contributor

Report: Inter Miami have signed Argentine striker Julián Carranza

By Abel Iraola on Sunday, June 23, 2019

Inter Miami FC is interested in a training facility at Amelia Earhart Park in Hialeah. Image via Inter Miami CF.

News broke over the weekend that Inter Miami will soon announce the signing of their first player, Julián Carranza of Argentine club Banfield.

The outlet TyC Sports was first to report that the 19-year-old will be heading to Miami following a $6 million deal with Banfield for the striker. Carranza will remain with the club for a couple of months before Miami’s inaugural season kicks off in March 2020.

According to @TyCSports, Inter Miami have agreed a $6M deal with Banfield for striker Julián Carranza (with a 10% sell-on clause). The 19-year-old will remain with El Taladro until the end of the year pic.twitter.com/WSrZXIqCen

— Peter Coates (@golazoargentino) June 21, 2019

The young forward was formed in Banfield’s academy and rose up into the senior team, scoring 5 goals in 14 appearances during his 2017/18 debut season, as well as making three appearances in that season’s Copa Libertadores campaign. Carranza is an exciting prospect with reports of having been scouted by Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid, and Manchester United, per Argentine radio outlet Radio Continental.

When Carranza finally makes his way here, he’ll likely come with some tips for life in South Florida from his former team captain, ex Miami FC striker Dario Cvitanich. “Super Dario” Cvitanich was FC’s first-ever goalscorer and returned to Banfield, his youth club, in January 2017.

His return coincided with Carranza’s rise into the senior team, where he played deputy to Cvitanich before taking over duties following Cvitanich’s departure to Racing Club earlier this year.

International Friendlies Miami

Amistoso Ecuador v Venezuela: hora, alineaciones y más detalles

By Abel Iraola on Saturday, June 1, 2019

Ecuador v Venezuela Battle It Out In A Copa America Tune-Up At Hard Rock Stadium

Las selecciones de Ecuador v Venezuela se enfrentarán esta noche en el Hard Rock Stadium de Miami para comenzar los preparativos para sus campañas de la Copa América 2019.

Inter Miami CF MLS USL

Rival bid for Lockhart site a new obstacle for Beckham’s MLS and USL dreams

By Abel Iraola on Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Fort Lauderdale's Lockhart Stadium, as pictured in March 2018. Photo by Matthew Bunch.

Nothing in Miami is ever easy. And getting their way in Fort Lauderdale just got even harder for Miami Beckham United.

On Monday, South Florida Sun-Sentinel reporter Brittany Wallman revealed on Twitter that a second party is competing for the Lockhart Stadium site in Fort Lauderdale. The site is the same one Inter Miami intend to use as the base for their academy and training facility.

Inter Miami CF

New Trademark Filings for Possible MLS Miami; Team Name and Crest

By Abel Iraola on Wednesday, August 15, 2018

It’s been a busy morning here in the Magic City with regards to soccer. Bill Reese from The Water Tower, has been on the trail for many trademark applications including Futbol Miami MLS. This morning he broke the news that MIPH, LLC has filed the images below as trademarks for a soccer team based in Miami. MIPH was the same group to place trademarks on Miami Freedom, Futbol Miami MLS, and other variations of the project’s name.

International Champions Cup Miami

FC Bayern vs Manchester City in the International Champions Cup: Previewing the Match

By Abel Iraola on Saturday, July 28, 2018

Graphic courtesy International Champions Cup

International Champions Cup action continues in Miami this weekend as Manchester City face off against Bayern Munich on Saturday evening.

Both the English and German champions are expected to field weakened teams as they’ve already done in the tournament, with several key players still on vacation following the World Cup.

International Champions Cup

Olympique Lyonnais Féminin defeat Manchester City Women 3-0 to reach Women’s International Champions Cup Final

By Abel Iraola on Thursday, July 26, 2018

Manchester City Women and Olympique Lyonnais Féminin face off in an International Champions Cup friendly. Image courtesy Manchester City Women.

Olympique Lyonnais Féminin will play the North Carolina Courage in the first Women’s International Champions Cup final after the latter bested Manchester City Women 3-0 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

The five-time UEFA Women’s Champions League winners and fifteen-time French first division winners scored three early goals to propel them to a commanding lead over the Citizens.

Lyon forward Eugénie Le Sommer scored just four minutes into the match thanks to an assist by Ada Hegerberg and again in the fourteenth, picking up the ball from a City defender and casually walking it around the English goalkeeper Karen Bardsley before slotting it into the net. Hegerberg made her own contribution to the score sheet two minutes later.

After a period of early domination, Lyon were able to hold on to their clean sheet with a defense that highlighted the difference in quality between the two sides.

Lyon and Manchester City’s women’s sides previously met in two UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-finals, including one last year. On both occasions, Manchester City fell to the eventual Champions League final winners on aggregate goals.

Inter Miami CF Miami

Que ha pasado con el equipo MLS de David Beckham?

By Abel Iraola on Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Fútbol Miami MLS is attempting to bring Major League Soccer to Miami. Graphic courtesy Fútbol Miami MLS.

Han pasado ya cuatro años desde que David Beckham anunció su intención de fichar un nuevo equipo de la MLS en Miami, opción que se le había otorgado en 2007 cuando llegó a la liga estadounidense.

Desde entonces han salido rumores, falsos comienzos, consideraciones de varios sitios para un nuevo estadio y, hasta ahora, poca información sólida. Esto es lo que sabemos.

Inter Miami CF

Hialeah is the surprise best location for Beckham’s MLS team

By Abel Iraola on Monday, March 26, 2018

The endless rollercoaster of indecision that is David Beckham’s quest for an MLS franchise has a new twist as of last week. Claro. The Miami Herald reported that Beckham’s group, primarily newly minted owner Jorge Mas, are looking at potential stadium sites other than the Overtown plan which was close to being finalized. The new locations, no less than five according to Mas, span from Downtown to Doral to Hialeah.

They seem to concede that after years of bluffing about requiring a stadium in the “urban core”, MLS doesn’t really care where they put it as long as it’s in the county.

One of the sites that’s making Miamians do a double take is Hialeah Park. And it could be the perfect location for Beckham to base his MLS franchise.

Hear me out, groaning Miamians.

Inter Miami CF

Updated: All the details from today’s MLS announcement in Miami

By Abel Iraola on Monday, January 29, 2018

David Beckham made a splash near Biscayne Bay on Monday in typical Miami style, high on hype and low on substance. But the energy was palpable in the Arsht Center and across Miami as the footballing legend announced that finally, yes, Major League Soccer had awarded him a coveted franchise in South Florida.

Inter Miami CF

The Men Behind Miami Beckham United: Who are the owners of Miami’s future MLS franchise?

By Abel Iraola on Sunday, January 28, 2018

South Florida is rife with excitement following Major League Soccer’s announcement that Miami will be awarded an MLS franchise. After a tumultuous four years, David Beckham has seemingly rounded up the partners and money he needs to bring a first division franchise back to South Florida for the first time in 16 years with the Miami Beckham United group.