Federico Redondo: The Sergio Busquets-regen that Lionel Messi's Inter Miami have beaten Man Utd, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich to sign

Redondo was given something of a head start. Once you learn where he comes from, his talent makes plenty of sense.

The 21-year-old midfielder is the son of Fernando Redondo, the former AC Milan and Real Madrid midfielder. The elder Redondo won two league titles and two Champions League titles with Madrid, one league title and one Champions League title with Milan, and in addition, lifted the Copa America in 1993 with Argentina.

That's not all, though. Redondo's grandfather is Jorge Solari, a former Argentina international whose nephew, Santiago, also went on to reach incredible heights as a player for Real Madrid. So to say that Redondo comes from a footballing family is something of an understatement!

At age 10, Federico enrolled into the academy of Argentinos Juniors, following in his father's footsteps. He signed his first professional contract with the club in 2021, and his debut in July 2022 as a substitute to kickstart his professional career.

Since making his debut for Argentino Juniors, Redondo has become a regular, featuring 59 times, including in seven Copa Libertadores matches in 2023. His big moments, though, have come at international level.

In Argentina's youth setup, Redondo has emerged as a future star. He first caught the international eye at the Under-20 World Cup in 2023, proving to be Argentina's standout despite the team's premature exit. To start 2024, he's been a regular for Argentina's U23s, helping them qualify for the upcoming Olympics.

There's talk that Messi may be in that Olympic squad, but Redondo won't need to wait that long to play with his country's hero as he prepares for his Inter Miami move.

Redondo's rise has caught the eyes of European giants, with several paying close attention to the midfielder in recent months.

His father's former clubs, AC Milan and Real Madrid, are among those that have been linked to the midfielder. Liverpool have been, too, with reports saying the club sees Redondo as someone who could play alongside Alexis Mac Allister. Manchester United and Bayern Munich have also been mentioned in despatches.

Miami, though, have won out. After losing Facundo Farias to a season-ending ACL injury, the Herons have room to add another U22 initiative player as a replacement. They're using that to sign Redondo, adding the talented midfielder to their loaded squad after agreeing an $8 million (£6.4m) fee with Argentinos Juniors.

With the move, Redondo will get the chance to learn under Busquets, the player he has most often been compared to during his short top-flight career.

It often takes time for a young player to develop the awareness and intelligence needed to anchor a midfield. Redondo, though, hasn't needed much time at all.

Despite his age, Redondo has already mastered the art of spacing; finding it on the attacking end and eliminating it defensively. When his team has the ball, Redondo drifts into large pockets, making himself available to receive the ball in an area where he'll have time to assess his next best option. And without the ball, his ability to read the game has led to plenty of interceptions.

Physically, though, Redondo stands out in a big way. At 6'2, he has a lanky build, but also has a burst of pace to him as well. When neccessary, he can drive with the ball before picking out the pass needed to ignite an attack.

Like most young players, Redondo could certainly afford to round out his game a bit. The question is, though, how much he'll have to.

He's scored twice in 49 games for Argentinos Juniors, which is okay enough, but if he can add a few more goals to his game, it would take him to the next level. Think of, say Rodri, the best No.6 in the world right now, who is good for five or six goals a season in addition to all he does defensively.

Rodri, though, didn't have that in his locker before playing for Manchester City, so that could very well come for Redondo. Even if it doesn't, if he continues to improve defensively in the way that many project him to, he'll be one hell of a pure No.6.

It's not just that Redondo plays like Busquets; he moves like him too. With his height and size, Redondo looks just like Busquets on the field, offering that lanky presence in the center of the field. The scary thing is that he runs like him, too. He has that same distinct stride with his torso straight up and his head on a swivel scanning the field around him.

Because of that, joining Miami provides an incredible opportunity to learn from the man himself. Busquets will no doubt take Redondo under his wing, giving him an education that no one else in the world could offer. Given his intelligence on the field, Busquets should be a great teacher off of it, pointing out all of the little things he had to develop to get to where he is today.

Redondo could very well be thrown into the fire as Inter Miami will have plenty to play for this season. In addition to their MLS schedule, the Herons will also play in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, which they'll kick off on March 7. The club will also look to defend its Leagues Cup title later this season while also focusing on the U.S. Open Cup after losing in the 2023 final.

Because of that, Miami will need depth and youth. The Barcelona legends will need rest, particularly with Messi and Suarez eyeing the Copa America. Busquets, too, won't be able to play every game, which will give Redondo plenty of chances to play alongside and in place of the legendary midfielder.

Redondo, of course, will need time to grow. He's still young and playing a position that is among the hardest to master. He's found a club and a mentor that should help him do just that, though, as he prepares for the next step in his career.