Phil Neville: Inter Miami 'not playing FIFA 22 anymore' with Pozuelo signing

Inter Miami's signing of Alejandro Pozuelo is a signal that they're becoming serious in the transfer market and 'not playing FIFA 22 anymore', according to head coach Phil Neville.

The Herons signed Spanish playmaker Pozuelo from Toronto FC for just $150k in General Allocation Money (GAM). 90min understands TFC were willing to sell so cheaply as they need to open a Designated Player (DP) spot for Italian star Federico Bernardeschi.

But Miami were able to take advantage of TFC's situation, landing a player who just two years ago won the MLS MVP award. Pozuelo has four goals and four assists in 16 MLS appearances so far this season.

With a low fee paid for an experienced MLS difference-maker, it's a far cry from the glamorous but, ultimately, unsuccessful acquisitions of the likes of Gonzalo Higuain and Blaise Matuidi.

"It's not just not playing FIFA 22 anymore. We're actually going through processes with people. A lot of hours, a lot of scouting, we're watching a lot of football, we're talking to a lot of people and we're bringing the right people and characters to the team," Neville told reporters on Thursday.

"Certain players stand out when you're an opposition manager and he was one. I think about [Hany] Mukhtar (Nashville SC), about Carles Gil (New England Revolution), think about those levels of players that are game-changers in this league.

"Pozuelo is that player. When you see the reaction of our players when they found out 24 hours ago, and you speak to some of the experienced players that played against him and they say, 'Well, that's the best player I've played against, the best player in the league, MVP of the league'.

"You're bringing in a certain type of player which sends a real strong statement about where we want to take this football club and this team."

As reported by 90min, Inter Miami had been in the market for a No.10 with German national team star Mario Gotze highlighted as a potential option.

However, Gotze ultimately signed for Eintracht Frankfurt, with Miami only considering the 30-year-old as one of many targets. Though not as big a name, Pozuelo's MLS experience and success make him a far more sensible signing - not to mention a cheaper one.

“We started having some conversations in the last few weeks, but we also were pursuing other targets at the same time," Inter Miami chief soccer officer and sporting director Chris Henderson said.

"Going into these windows, you have to be prepared. You’re competing with other teams for the same players. There was a period we thought it wasn’t going to happen, but then it came back. We thought he was the perfect fit for what we were trying to do this year.”