Mexico international Rodolfo Pizarro has officially joined Inter Miami CF as the club's second Designated Player after the MLS expansion club announced the signing on Monday.
The deal concludes what had become a transfer saga between Miami -- co-owned by David Beckham -- and Pizarro's former club Monterrey.
"My main goal is to be champion. I want to lift a cup with this Club, make MLS history with Miami," Pizarro said in a statement released by the team.
"The truth is I'm very happy, very happy to be here, to live this new experience, to leave my country," added Pizarro. "I'm feeling very positive, looking forward to getting this started."
Bienvenido, @Rpizarrot!
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) February 17, 2020
The 26yr old Mexican midfielder joins #InterMiamiCF as our second Designated Player for the 2020 season.
🗞️https://t.co/NwCxRQzyRC pic.twitter.com/7sRh5mWfI8
Pizarro had traveled to Miami from Monterrey last week after the Liga MX side had stated that the player "unilaterally [rescinded] his contract with [the club] due to his wish to continue his sporting career with the new MLS franchise in Miami."
While Miami did not announce terms on the deal, ESPN sources put the transfer fee at close to $12 million, almost two million more than was originally quoted by the player's representatives.
"We're very happy to have a player of Rodolfo's quality join the Club," said Paul McDonough, Inter Miami CF's COO & Sporting Director. "He is a creative midfielder who strengthens our roster and elevates everyone's quality on the field."
In an interview with TUDN on Monday, Pizarro said he expects more Mexican players to come to MLS in the future.
"As time goes by, more Mexican [players] want to come here, he said. "It's a fact. ...It's not about comparing Liga MX to MLS. We're not enemies. It's not about figuring out which is better and which one is worse. We have to enjoy them both."
Pizarro told ESPN he received assurances that the move to MLS would not affect his future with the Mexico national team.
"I spoke with the coach. If he had told me that I wouldn't have been called up after coming here, I wouldn't have taken the decision to come," Pizarro said.
"I think the most important thing for a player is the national team, preparing yourself to be there. I spoke with the coach, he told me he was in agreement and that as long as my form doesn't dip, he knows how competitive the league is and there's no problem."
The delayed announcement comes after Pizarro made his preseason debut on Saturday against Philadelphia and scored his first goal with the club just two minutes into coming on as a substitute.