Deni Buanga (31, LAFC) appears quite regretful about missing the chance to play alongside "soccer genius" Lionel Messi (38, Inter Miami).
Spanish outlet 'Marca' reported on the 24th (Korea time) that "with Inter Miami on the verge of signing Herman Berterame, LAFC's marquee forward Buanga publicly expressed dissatisfaction."
Marca added that Miami had made a transfer offer, but Buanga signaled that he had no choice but to stay because of LAFC.
According to The Athletic, Miami had targeted Buanga as its top priority before Berterame. It officially offered LAFC $13 million (about 18.9 billion won) as a transfer fee. However, LAFC did not even open the negotiating table. They rejected the offer immediately.
Miami is the defending champion, having won last season's Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup. After the club's first title in its history, it is accelerating efforts to strengthen the squad with consecutive titles in mind. To fill the void left by the retirements of Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, it brought in Sergio Reguilón. It completed the permanent signing of Tadeo Ayende. It also wanted Buanga. But the plan ended at the planning stage.
LAFC's position was that it could not send a key forward under contract through 2027 to a Western Conference rival.
In the end, Miami changed direction. As an alternative, it chose Monterrey's Berterame.
After the transfer fell through, Buanga's reaction spread quickly online. He retweeted a fan's post. The post included the phrase "I was almost living the dream, but the club blocked it." Many foreign outlets interpreted this as Buanga leaving a targeted message aimed at LAFC for blocking the transfer.
Buanga is currently fully participating in LAFC training as he prepares for the next season. A scene of him training with Son Heung-min was also shared on the club's social media account
From the club's perspective, Buanga is a resource it cannot easily give up. If he were to be absent, the entire season could be destabilized.
Buanga left France's Ligue 1 Saint-Étienne in the summer of 2022 to join LAFC. He became a regular starter soon after joining. Over four seasons he appeared in 152 official matches, scoring 101 goals and providing 42 assists. He has been responsible for more than 20 goals each season in MLS. Since Son Heung-min joined LAFC last summer, they have produced a synergistic effect.
[OSEN]