Leo Messi will have a new partner in attack with Inter Miami. It is Allen Obando, a young Ecuadorian prospect, 18 years old, trained at the Barcelona SC academy, who will be on loan in Florida for the entire season after his rights were acquired by the Atlético de Madrid Group. It is expected that Inter Miami will make his signing official in the coming hours.

Who is Allen Obando?

Undoubtedly, Allen Obando is one of the big prospects from Ecuador, alongside Kendra Páez, who was signed by Chelsea from Independiente Del Valle for the upcoming season. In Obando's case, he played up to 23 matches with Barcelona SC, scoring four goals, and it has just been a year since his debut with Ecuador. Therefore, he is an interesting addition to provide relief for Luis Suárez.

Owned by the Atlético de Madrid Group, the intention is for Allen Obando, who usually plays as a center-forward, to continue his development in an environment where young prospects like Federico Redondo or Diego Gómez have been thriving. Diego Gómez recently made the move to England to join Brighton in the Premier League.

When Could Allen Obando Debut?

Allen Obando arrived yesterday in Miami and passed his medical examination without any issues. Therefore, it is expected that his signing will be announced later today. This will make him the seventh signing for Inter Miami this season, where they are one of the top favorites to win both the MLS and the ConcaChampions.

Taking advantage of the FIFA window and since he was not called up by Ecuador, Mascherano will have time to get to know Allen Obando and help him gradually adapt to the dynamic of Inter Miami, so he can be available as soon as possible. We’ll see if he’s ready to debut against Philadelphia Union… or if his debut is delayed until April 3 in the match against Los Ángeles FC in the quarterfinals of the ConcaChampions.