Shockwaves at Inter Miami: Messi’s Crucial Ally Abruptly Exits for Rival MLS Club!

Change is the name of the game in Major League Soccer, and Tuesday brought a bombshell for Inter Miami fans everywhere. One of the club’s cornerstone players, who has been instrumental in shaping the team’s recent triumphs alongside Lionel Messi, has packed his bags—and not for some overseas giant, but for another MLS rival. At just 27, this was the goalkeeper’s first-ever departure from the Herons, a squad he helped elevate from rookies to champions. It’s hard not to feel the sting when a teammate so pivotal to Messi’s American saga steps away—especially after the electrifying summers and trophy-laden seasons they’ve shared. But sometimes, fresh challenges call, and a new chapter begins with Eastern Conference foes beckoning. Curious about all the twists behind this shift and what it means for Inter Miami’s future? LEARN MORE

On Tuesday, Inter Miami confirmed that one of the club’s most important players has left the organization to join another Major League Soccer team. This leaves Lionel Messi without a teammate who played a crucial role in the team’s success in recent years.

“Inter Miami CF announced today that goalkeeper Drake Callender has joined Charlotte FC,” the Herons said in an official statement on their website. With this move, the 27-year-old player leaves the club for the first time in his career to try his luck with an Eastern Conference rival.

Callender began his journey with Inter Miami in 2019, ahead of the club’s debut MLS season, and eventually became a key figure for the team. In fact, he was the second player to reach 100 appearances with the Herons and now leaves with 118 games played across all competitions.

The goalkeeper’s importance became especially clear after Messi’s arrival in the United States. The team’s resurgence in the summer of 2023 was fueled in part by Callender’s performances, which were crucial to their Leagues Cup title that year. He also played 32 matches during the 2024 regular season, in which they captured the Supporters’ Shield.

However, at the start of the current season, Callender’s situation changed drastically. A string of physical issues, including surgery to repair a sports hernia in May, kept him from retaining his spot in the starting lineup. That, combined with the strong form of Oscar Ustari, meant Callender managed to play only three matches in 2025.

* Developing story