Stefanelli to make Inter Miami debut Saturday in scrimmage vs. Saint Louis City SC

Argentine midfielder Nico “Chicho” Stefanelli will play his first game in an Inter Miami uniform on Saturday when the team holds a preseason scrimmage against MLS expansion club Saint Louis City SC at Miami’s training facility.

He can’t wait to get started.

Stefanelli, 28, played previously for Swedish top-flight club AIK. He is an attacking midfielder who can also play striker, and he scored 60 goals with 20 assists in more than 200 matches in Europe and South America.

He knows Inter Miami defender Christopher McVey and Robert Taylor, who also played in Sweden, and said he has followed MLS for years. He was intrigued by Miami’s “big ambitions” and said he is a versatile player who can play anywhere but goalkeeper, joking that at 5-5 he is too short for that position.

“It’s my first time in the United States, first time in Miami,” he said, noting that he experienced Miami traffic for the first time. “I know it’s a beautiful city with beaches, but I mostly stay at home because I have two young sons, and my focus is on the club.”

He said he was starstruck when he met retired Inter Miami forward Gonzalo Higuain this week.

“For me, being an Argentine, to see a forward of that magnitude, I was speechless,” Stefanelli said.

Miami’s other new Argentine player, left back Franco Negri, arrived Thursday, but will not play Saturday. Others who will not participate are Jean Mota, Ryan Sailor and Bryce Duke, all working their way out of injuries, and newly signed Venezuelan forward Josef Martinez, who is still catching up after a long layoff.

Saturday’s scrimmage, which is closed to the public, is the team’s third preseason game. Miami played Brazilian club Vasco da Gama two weeks ago and faced FIU in a closed-door scrimmage on Wednesday.

Inter Miami coach Phil Neville likes what he has seen so far from Stefanelli and Negri. He compared Negri to former Inter Miami defender Nico Figal, who left for Boca Juniors last year.

“Negri trains like an animal,” Neville said. “He’s been so impressive in the meetings we’ve had with him. As far as personality and profile Negri is a little Figal-like, that Argentinean tough defender who loves defending. He’s got great energy on that left side and will provide great competition.”

New center back arriving soon

Neville said a “very good” center back will join the team in the coming days but provided no details. The team traded Damion Lowe to the Philadelphia Union this week in exchange for $250,000 in general allocation money Miami can use to sign the new player.

Emerson loaned to Santos

Colombian forward Emerson was loaned to Mexican club Santos Laguna through the end of 2023. Santos Laguna will also hold an option to purchase the 22-year-old attacker. Emerson signed with Inter Miami in January 2022, played 22 games and scored twice.

“Emerson is our young kind we want to keep developing,” Neville said. “The adaptation from where he came from, Millonarios, was difficult. Like every young player, he came to the bright lights of Miami and struggled to adapt on and off the field, more off than on. I was very cautious with him, and I’ve got to say there were times I could have played him more. I take responsibility for that. I went a little safe with my selections in not selecting him … he needs to play games, and Mexico will be brilliant for him.”