Johnny Cardoso has been an out and out starter and central piece of Inter’s midfield with 19 games played with 2 goals and 2 assists in Brazil’s Serie A this season, but it has been in the Copa Libertadores where Johnny has earned his stripes.

Playing in the South American version of the Champions League, Johnny Cardoso has looked comfortable and at home playing in some of the regions most complicated stadiums, El Gran Parque Central (Nacional), Mas Monumental (River Plate), Estadio Hernando Siles (Bolivar), and Maracana (Fluminense) have all been pit stops for a player whose tactical awareness and level of play has improved significantly this season.

Johnny Cardoso to miss USMNT camp

Sadly, Johnny Cardoso has missed many games due to a mix of injuries this season, a calf injury sidelined him for three games, then an ankle injury for another three. Now Steven Goff is reporting that due to an injury in his right ankle Cardoso is set to miss USMNT camp. The US will play Trinidad and Tobago in a two-leg series that will determine if the Americans will play in the 2024 Copa America. Most likely the USMNT biggest challenge leading up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Already without Tyler Adams who is out with a long-term injury all signs point to Weston McKennie and Yunus Musah manning the midfield duties with possibly Giovanni Reyna playing an out and out 10 role with Malik Tillman and Alejandro Zendejas on the wings.

Move to LaLiga

According to sources in US and Brazil, Johnny Cardoso is set for an estimated $8 million move to Real Betis in LaLiga. Negotiations are near completion and Cardoso is set to become yet the next American in European soccer.

At Betis he would be managed by Manuel Pellegrini of Real Madrid, River Plate, and Manchester City fame, ironically Pellegrini also managed his current manager at Inter Eduardo Coudet.

Johnny Cardoso joins Tim Weah and Christian Pulisic who are set to miss these two critical matches for the USMNT.

Musah seems to be a lock for the USMNT World Cup squad, his absence did open the possibility for another player to come in and possibly make an impression. That player is Inter of Porto Alegre midfielder Johnny Cardoso.

Johnny Cardoso has already been capped by the USMNT three times, but this season in Brazil’s Serie A he is coming into his own. Here is the lowdown on Johnny Cardoso and what he has been up to.

Johnny Cardoso stats at Inter of Porto Alegre

After struggling for playing time the 20-year-old New Jersey native found himself claiming a spot in the tough Inter lineup. Johnny, as he is known, has played 17 games, and scored 3 goals and added 2 assists during the lead up to his call up.

Cardoso started the season on the bench and was rumored to be moving to MLS during the summer transfer window but in week 14 he played 30 minutes against Coritiba FC and began to slowly insert himself into the lineup.

From week 13-26 Cardoso has played every game for Inter, his best match a two-goal game against Juventude on August 30th. What most impresses in the lead up to his call up is how Cardoso has played in six positions during that stretch of games.

Cardoso has played central midfielder, on the right wing, wing back, and creative midfielder. In his last three matches Cardoso has played central midfielder, inside right midfielder, and right wing.

In four seasons at Inter Cardoso has played 88 matches and scored 5 goals, for Gregg Berhalter, “Johnny” could be a very interesting option.