Marcelo Weigandt opens up on Messi, Maradona, Inter Miami and why he wears No. 57

If you are a young Argentine soccer player and you get a phone call informing you that Diego Maradona or Lionel Messi are interested in you joining their team, you don’t think twice. You say yes.

Just ask Marcelo “Chelo” Weigandt, the 24-year-old right back who Inter Miami signed on loan last week from Boca Juniors.

Four years ago, during the pandemic, Maradona was coaching Argentine club Gimnasia and reached out to Boca Juniors about loaning the young defender to his club. He said yes and played there through 2021.

Last month, when Messi’s team came calling for him to replace right back DeAndre Yedlin, who was traded to FC Cincinnati, Weigandt was ready to start packing his bags. He signed a one-year loan deal, with an option to extend the loan through 2025.

“Maradona had called me, I didn’t hesitate, and this was a similar situation,” he told the Miami Herald on Monday, after his introductory news conference. “When my agent informed me that Inter Miami wanted me, I didn’t think twice. I wanted to share a roster with these great stars. I can learn so much from them. From the beginning, the chance to play with Leo [Messi] influenced my decision. It’s a dream to be his teammate. I’m very happy. I will do my part to help the team reach its goals.”

He got his work visa last week and wasted no time making an impact.

Weigandt started in his debut against New York City FC over the weekend, played 103 minutes and looked comfortable on the ball and linking with midfielders and forwards. He made 44 passes and connected on 84 percent of them. He also took two shots and drew praise from coach Tata Martino.

Weigandt will face a bigger test on Wednesday, as Inter Miami plays the home leg of the Champions Cup quarterfinals against Monterrey of Mexico (8 p.m., FS1, TUDN).

“I liked the field a lot, was happy to be able to debut, I was a little bit anxious,” Weigandt said. “It’s a very nice league, very competitive. I felt very comfortable. I already knew Leo [Messi], had been with him on the [Argentine] national team, but to be able to be his teammate is marvelous and very good for my career.”

Long before Messi arrived at Inter Miami, promising young South American players would almost automatically head to Europe to advance their careers. But MLS has become a popular destination through the years.

Among the notable Argentines who have played in MLS are Diego Valeri, Diego Soñora, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Javier Morales, Seba Blanco, Thiago Almada, and Gonzalo Higuain. This season, there are 32 players from Argentina on MLS rosters, including seven with Inter Miami — Messi, Weigandt, Fede Redondo, Facundo Farias, Nico Freire, Franco Negri, and Tomas Aviles.

“The truth is, this a big step in my career to be here,” Weigandt said. “I am here for a reason. Each person has their destiny, and this is mine right now, and I’m very happy to be here. It’s incredible. I love the city, it’s so nice. And the club, I am enjoying every moment.”

After his press conference, Weigandt spent some time chatting with the Miami Herald. This is what we learned…

He wears No. 57 in memory of his grandmother.

Weigandt’s father, a pharmaceutical salesman, was 17 years old when his mother died. She was 57 at the time. Marcelo, who was born less than a year later, never got to meet her, but he feels inspired by her spirit and wears 57 in her memory.

“It’s a nice, but complicated, story because my father, at age 17, became in charge of a family,” Marcelo said. “Today, to be able to share my journey and the dreams of our whole family with him, my mom and my sister…that is beautiful.”

His family plans to join him in South Florida in a few months.

Weigandt was born in the port town of Avellaneda, across the Riachuelo river from Buenos Aires, and raised in nearby Monte Chingolo. Avellaneda is home to soccer clubs Independiente and Racing, and Lanus is a neighboring club, but Weigandt was spotted by a Boca Juniors scout when he was five years old and that became his club for the next 19 years.

Weigandt started playing soccer at three years old at a neighborhood club called San Jeronimo. At five, while playing for another club called Villa Ideal, a scout from Boca Juniors spotted him and asked if he wanted to go try out for their youth club.

“Obviously, I said yes, I didn’t hesitate,” Weigandt said, smiling. “At six I started with the Boca 2000 team, that’s where the dream began. At 15, I got my first callup for the Argentine U15 team. After that, U17, U19, U20, then with the senior team. At 18 I made my debut with Boca’s senior team.”

Although he has worn the royal blue and yellow of Boca for most of his life, Weigandt is excited to don Inter Miami’s pink and black. “I love it, and I look good in pink,” he said, laughing. “My mom said I look good in pink, so if she approves, it’s acceptable.”

He feels at home in South Florida.

Weigandt had been to Miami once before, with Boca Juniors during the preseason. He was struck by the large Argentine population and the nice weather.

He understands English but doesn’t speak much.

“The coaches told me they are going to provide a teacher and we’ll take it from there,” he said.

His idea of a perfect off day is spending time with his extended family, sharing a large meal, and playing Bingo with his relatives.

He expects to be playing primarily in a four-man back line.

“Tata gave me a great welcome, as did my teammates. He told me that he wants to play with a four-man line, and I told him that’s fine. I am at his service, whatever he decides for me will always be fine.”

He is eager to learn from Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets.

“They are players with high pedigree, who have lived through so much, won so many titles, and they helped me fit in very well. They are great people. Us younger players try to follow them. They are great role models.”