Tomás Avilés is a 21-year-old right-footed centre-back who plays for Inter Miami. Although the Argentine has featured in less than 50% of game time this season, he was once regarded as a major prospect. In 2023, Miami acquired him from Racing Club’s youth academy for a considerable fee. That same year, he even represented Argentina at the U20 World Cup. However, he has yet to truly make his mark in the MLS.
Standing at 6’1″ (1.86 m), Avilés makes effective use of his height and strength in his defensive actions inside the box. He often outmuscles opponents in the air and when making contact as they receive the ball with their back to goal. However, he lacks agility and acceleration, which limits his ability to cover ground quickly. As a result, he relies heavily on his positioning and game intelligence, as his limited mobility leaves little room to recover from positional errors. Additionally, his high center of gravity and limited footwork make him vulnerable in 1v1 situations, particularly against agile, mobile attackers.
In possession, Avilés does not stand out. When given space and time he can complete simple short passes, but he rarely attempts line-breaking balls or switches of play. He tends to be risk-averse, avoiding progression through ball carrying or ambitious passing. This lack of verticality is also reflected in his pitch positioning, which is often too deep to close the gap between midfield and defense, limiting his team’s ability to progress. His passing can lack consistency in composure and precision, as he frequently plays to teammates under pressure or slightly underhits passes, disrupting the rhythm. Under intense pressing, his slow ball-handling speed and lack of calmness are clear. Therefore, he will rarely try to play out of pressure but instead opt for the safe option of playing a blind long ball, frequently resulting in loss of possession.
Off the ball, Avilés shows solid defensive IQ. He positions himself effectively to clear crosses and block high-quality xG chances. His anticipation and situational awareness are notable, particularly when scanning his surroundings to assess threats. He is effective at covering depth, especially when pressing sideways to protect the space behind full-backs. In these situations his timing and alertness in tracking runners from the side shines. He’s also very proficient in executing the offside trap, stepping up at just the right moments to catch opponents off. Avilés is not the most aggressive defender who dives into challenges but instead, he prefers to delay opponents and control situations through smart positioning and well-timed interventions. His strong awareness allows him to organize and command the backline, despite his young age.
Avilés’ next club choice will be crucial to his development. In a tactical setup that can mask his physical and technical limitations, he has the potential to succeed. Currently, Inter Miami deploys him in a sweeper role, acting as the last man in defense. However, at a higher level, this may be less viable given his lack of speed and mobility to cover large spaces, particularly in possession-based sides with a high defensive line. His profile appears better suited to a more pragmatic style of play, within a team that defends deeper in a low block. His ball-handling under pressure needs significant improvement, but this remains a realistic area for growth given his age.
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