Gonzalo came to a crossroads in his career when his deal at Juventus was mutually terminated last summer.
Higuain found out MLS looks like Italian football
Gonzalo Higuain has admitted that he was surprised by the high level of football in MLS, having initially thought he could play in the tournament “with a cigarette” in his mouth. Gonzalo came to a crossroads in his career when his deal at Juventus was mutually terminated last summer. The Argentine reportedly had many offers to stay in Europe but decided to take on a new challenge with Inter Miami, initially believing that he could shine in the US without playing to his maximum level. Higuain has since learned that MLS is as competitive as Serie A, as he said during an interview: “I thought I would come here and play with a cigarette in my mouth and instead, it’s hard. It’s a tough league. I found out it looks like Italian football.”
In Italy, if you don’t know the league, you suffer
“In Spain and England, it’s easier to do well, while in Italy, if you don’t know the league, you suffer.” Higuain dedicated his future to Inter Miami through to 2022 after leaving Juventus but made a worse start by missing a penalty on his debut as his team lost 3-0 to Philadelphia Union in September. The 33-year-old striker has since appeared in six more MLS games, redeeming himself by netting four goals, including two in a thrilling 3-2 win over FC Cincinnati in May. Higuain returned to Juventus ahead of the 2019-20 season after a short loan spell at Chelsea and managed to score eight goals and four assists to their Serie A cause in 32 outings as they won a ninth successive Scudetto.
However, the Argentina international was no longer a regular starter. As his private life also proved to be unfulfilling, he sought advice from Bianconeri teammate Gianluigi Buffon regarding his future. “I could not find the right determination and calmness outside of football. I had nothing more to give,” he said of his decision to leave Turin. “A great friend of mine, as Buffon told me: ‘If you no longer feel like the fire inside in training, if you no longer feel the determination to be at high levels, you have to go’. Football gave me a lot, but it’s time to say enough and find joy and fun and new football in a city that surprised me because it was wonderful.”