Don’t go trusting this man with any of your secrets. Inter Miami midfielder Diego Gomez confirmed after his side’s 3-1 win over Toronto that his agent was in talks with Brighton over an impending move to the Amex.
Gomez scored the opening goal and provided an assist for Federico Redondo, who bagged a brace on his way to being named Royal Caribbean Icon of the Match. The petition starts here to have the Albion’s man-of-the-match award renamed and sponsored by a cruise company.
Anyway, Gomez was asked about his future in a post-match interview, whilst wearing a full Inter Miami tracksuit and standing in front of an Inter Miami backdrop.
The Paraguayan midfielder’s answer: “My agent is speaking to Inter Miami and Brighton & Hove Albion, I came here to make the jump to Europe. I hope it happens and whatever God wants.”
Imagine if a Brighton player came out in Albion training kit, in front of an Albion backdrop, and said his agent is speaking to another club and he hopes to join them 😂 It would spark an absolute meltdown
I like this mad bastard already #BHAFC https://t.co/HcfshjCbIC
— We Are Brighton (@wearebrighton) July 18, 2024
Diego Gomez publicly revealing the current status of his potential move to Brighton is unlikely to go down well in the corridors of power at the Amex.
The Albion are notoriously secretive over transfer targets and progress towards deals. Those concerns have only heightened by the manner in which Chelsea hijacked the signing of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall at the last minute.
And here we have a possible signing telling the world and his wife that he is talking to Brighton. In some ways, you have to admire the brash honesty of Diego Gomez. But at the same time, don’t go telling him if you are having an affair.
Brighton had a rumoured £7 million bid for Gomez turned down by Inter Miami in June; a rumour which we can now presume to have been true.
Miami are said to value the 21-year-old at anywhere between £17 million and £25 million, underlining their belief Gomez is one of the best young South American talents in world football.
If Brighton paid such a fee, it would make Gomez the most expensive signing ever from a MLS club. The days of MLS being nothing more than a retirement home for aging players from Europe appear to be over.
Gomez helped Miami lift the MLS League Cup last season, alongside a certain Lionel Messi. For him to be making headlines in the current campaign despite the presence of Messi, Luis Suárez and Sergio Busquets at Chase Stadium is pretty impressive.
Parallels will inevitably be drawn between Gomez and Julio Enciso. Both are Paraguayan internationals and both burst onto the scene at Club Libertad.
But whereas Enciso is very much an attacking player, Gomez is more of a natural central midfielder. He has been hailed the Paraguayan answer to N’Golo Kante.
Paraguayan football expert Ralph Hannah has said of Gomez: “He hit the ground running at Inter Miami, unfazed by his stellar teammates, and captained Paraguay under 23s to Olympic qualification.”
“Is he worth $30 million? He might be because of his unique characteristics and ability to play on a high-pressing side.”
Despite the £25 million capture of Dutch international Mats Wieffer, central midfield still looks an area Brighton are short in.
Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo were never adequately replaced last summer. The signing of Mahmoud Dahoud did not work out.
Pascal Gross has been heavily linked with a move to Borussia Dortmund and Jakub Moder would appear to not have a future at the Albion given the club tried to offload him to Leicester City as a makeweight in the Dewsbury-Hall transfer.
Brighton need at least one more midfielder before even taking into consideration a sale from that position.
Gomez – and his agent – seem to think he is the man. Let’s just hope his public announcement doesn’t result in another Chelsea hijack.
