Inter Miami’s attacking midfielder Rodolfo Pizarro recently received a call-up for Mexico national team, getting an opportunity to add to his 25 appearances for his native country. This, however, didn’t sit well with the MLS side.
If Pizarro accepts the call, he will miss up to two-thirds of Inter’s remaining nine regular-season games due to travels and required quarantine on his return. And with the club still in play to make the Finals series playoffs, the absence of the 26-year-old midfielder would seriously hurt their chances to get there.
“We have made it very clear that we want Rodolfo to stay with us,” Inter Miami coach Diego Alonso told reporters on Thursday. “We are in conversations with MLS and FIFA to try to reach a resolution. It is a difficult situation for Rodolfo because he wants to play for his national team, but also wants to help our team.”
According to Alonso, Miami will let Pizarro leave if forced, but they remain hopeful that the player will choose the team over the national side.
“If we are obligated to release him to the national team, we will, but if we don’t have to, we won’t,” he added. “There are good reasons for him to stay with us. He will respect whatever decision is made.”
Mexico is scheduled to play two games early this month, facing Netherlands and Algeria. However, both contests are friendly games, which makes the result not so crucial. This is one of the reasons why Rodolfo Pizarro might sit this gathering out.
After getting used to MLS, Pizzaro emerged as an important player for Inter Miami in the recent period. In 12 games he played in 2020, he scored three goals while adding four assists.
