Introducing: Maxi Falcón! ‘The Wig’ is here to cover Inter Miami’s thin back line | OneFootball

Inter Miami may finally have a dominant force leading its back line

Rightly or wrongly, much of the blame for Inter Miami’s (few) woes in 2024 fell on its defense, specifically the backline. Ask any supporter the team’s most glaring need in the offseason and the first answer likely included the words “defense” or “center back.”

Enter Maximiliano Joel Falcón Picart. The 27-year-old Uruguayan looks the part of a central defender: He’s 5-10, but a gloriously wild growth of curly brown hair makes him look much taller (and gives him his nickname: El Peluca, “the Wig”).

Falcón signed a four-year deal through 2028, with an option for 2029; Inter Miami paid a Chilean powerhouse Colo Colo a $2 million signing fee. El Peluca joins Miami with 10 goals and 2 assists in 195 professional appearances for Rentistas (Uruguay) and Colo-Colo. He helped win six trophies at the latter team, and also has competed 24 times in the Copa Libertadores, South America's premier club competition.

"I’m thrilled to join such an important club like Inter Miami for this first chapter of my career playing outside of South America," Falcón said at news conference announcing his signing.

"My goal is to give my all to help the club and my new teammates succeed and win titles."

Falcón looks sturdy; a stopper. And he oozes intensity. He is confident and bold — he reportedly skipped training sessions to force Colo Colo into trading him to Inter Miami this preseason. As soon as rumors leaked that the Herons were interested, a steady drumbeat of expectations began thrumming through social media.

Negotiating the details of Falcón’s contract and work documents took longer than expected, but Falcón made his Inter Miami debut Tuesday at Chase Stadium in the Herons’ 3-1 Concacaf Champions Cup win against Sporting Kansas City. His performance didn’t disappoint; in the 29th minute, he blocked a shot on the goal line and later dived to head a ball away from an attacker’s feet. He played with a controlled physicality and proved competent with the ball at his feet and an accurate passer.

Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano wasn’t surprised.

“Even though he isn’t in game rhythm yet because of so much time off, Maxi has shown what he is, a warrior who plays with his heart on his sleeve,” Mascherano said. “That’s why we brought him. We know what he brings.”