A closer look at six Fort Lauderdale CF players who could be playing for Inter Miami in 2022

Phil Neville stated recently that he wants six players from the USL League One side to be on the MLS team next season

Inter Miami may be in the thick of an attempted playoff push, but that is not stopping the organization from planning for the future.

Inter Miami has entered the final stretch of the 2021 campaign focused on trying to earn a postseason berth, but the groundwork for some of what is to come this winter and beyond has already started. The South Florida side brought up nearly a dozen players from USL League One affiliate Fort Lauderdale CF last week to train with the first team, and plans to do so for much of the rest of the year.

“When it comes to January next year and we are back for preseason, I want six of them players in my MLS squad (and) on my roster,” said Inter Miami head coach Phil Neville on Sept. 27. “Ultimately that is what this club is all about: bringing through their own players. We now have got a four-month period where we can get them physically, mentally, tactically, technically ready to be an MLS player.”

Inter Miami has said practically since its inception that developing local players is a big priority, but another reason why there is likely to be an insertion of youth in 2022 is because of the financial sanctions that will kick in at that time as a result of the MLS roster violations that took place during the expansion season last year.

Regardless, expect a few prospects from Fort Lauderdale CF to make the jump to the Inter Miami roster this winter. Miami Total Futbol has had conversations with several people in and around the club about which players might soon get promoted, and has come up with a list of six of the candidates.

Players like Edison Azcona and Ian Fray who already have MLS deals were left off this bunch because both already figure to be in the mix for the first team next year, but here are the others who may be on Inter Miami’s roster in 2022 and how they project at the next level:

Aime Mabika, 23, Centerback

An imposing 6-foot-6 prospect who played collegiately at Kentucky for four years before being taken by Inter Miami in the MLS Draft this past January, Mabika is the oldest and possibly most ready player on this list. He is a good defender who is still working on both distributing from the back and being a leader, but he draws attention on set pieces that can free up others given his notable size and has been mentioned as being close for the next level multiple times by Phil Neville.

2021 Fort Lauderdale CF stats: 13 appearances, 13 starts, 1,170 minutes

Ethan Hardin, 18, Centerback

While he is one of the younger prospects here, Hardin boasts the type of soft left foot that is hard to find in American centerbacks. His distribution is a strength as a result and so too is his understanding of the game. The teenager is still maturing physically and learning how to deal with bigger and stronger strikers, but his mentality and daily approach to training is said to have him on the right track.

2021 Fort Lauderdale CF stats: 15 appearances, 15 starts, 1,350 minutes, 1 goal

Harvey Neville, 19, Right back

Like father Phil Neville, Harvey projects as a right back. He has been playing in the middle of the park more often than not this year, but the idea behind that has been to have him develop his all-around game. The teenaged Neville can hit a good switch and is not afraid to get on the ball, but will have to show he can manage the physical, tactical, and defensive duties at fullback at the next level.

2021 Fort Lauderdale CF stats: 17 appearances, 17 starts, 1,455 minutes

Noah Allen, 17, Left back

The youngest prospect on the list, Allen already boasts lots of good qualities for a left back. He gets forward often and recovers well, can help in possession, has improved his positional play, and is not afraid to deliver a ball in. The quality of his service can be better and so too can his ability to deal with different types of wingers in 1-on-1 duels, but the Pembroke Pines native continues to grow physically and tactically.

2021 Fort Lauderdale CF stats: 23 appearances, 23 starts, 2,070 minutes

George Acosta, 21, Central midfielder

Good in possession and with his penetrating passes, Acosta is the most creative player in this bunch. He has recorded seven assists, which is second-highest in the league, thanks to his vision and ability to find spaces to help in the build-out. The Miami native who already has an MLS deal projects more as a No. 8 than 10, which is why he has to keep on working on his defensive understanding of when to press or contain in addition to finding ways to become even more available when the team is building up.

2021 Fort Lauderdale CF stats: 19 appearances, 17 starts, 4 goals, 7 assists, 1,487 minutes

Mitch Curry, 22, Striker

Another of the more polished players in this group, Curry is a direct forward who likes to run in behind opposing defenses. The Englishman who has some experience after recently playing at Sunderland in his native land likes to get into goal-scoring areas and pull the trigger, but still needs to clean up his finishing. The fact that he would count in MLS as an international player is not ideal, but if he keeps finding the back of the net then he will strengthen his case.

2021 Fort Lauderdale CF stats: 19 appearances, 16 starts, 7 goals, 3 assists, 1,484 minutes