Christopher Martin Rodrigo de Paul has left Spain’s Atlético Madrid and joined up with Argentina teammate Lionel Messi in the United States for Inter Miami.
The duo won the 2022 World Cup together in Qatar, with de Paul instrumental in Argentina’s progression in the tournament, culminating in a labored performance in the blockbuster final against France.
But he will once again be coached by an Argentine, departing Diego Simeone’s Atléti for Javier Mascherano’s Inter Miami. With a star-studded President is English football legend David Beckham, the team currently sit fifth in the Eastern Conference table of Major League Soccer (MLS). De Paul will join initially on loan, with an option to make the deal permanent for a reported fee of around €15 million.
De Paul was unveiled during Saturday’s match against FC Cincinnati. Addressing the fans at Chase Stadium, the midfielder told fans on the microphone, “I’m going to give everything I have so that together we can win more titles.” His pal Messi was missing from the scenes after being suspended for missing the MLS All-Star Game earlier this week.
The 30-year-old midfielder joined Atlético Madrid from Udinese in 2021 and quickly became a fan favorite under Simeone, known for his stamina, tactical discipline, and aggressive pressing. Despite a few injury setbacks, de Paul remained a consistent performer in La Liga and Champions League play.
With Mascherano now at the helm following Tata Martino’s departure earlier this season, Inter Miami is positioning itself as a second home for Argentina’s stars. De Paul is now the ninth player from Argentina in the Miami squad.
But it remains to be seen when the World Cup-winning midfielder will make his debut. Inter Miami have named just 26 players to their Leagues Cup roster — four short of the maximum 30 — leaving room for late additions.
The club is understood to be finalizing the necessary paperwork for Rodrigo De Paul, whose arrival has sparked considerable anticipation among fans.
If his documentation is cleared in time, De Paul is expected to feature during the group stage of the tournament. Inter Miami’s decision to leave open roster spots hints that his eligibility could be confirmed in the coming days. The team is currently preparing for its next group stage fixture, and De Paul’s inclusion could provide a significant boost to the midfield as they aim to progress deep into the competition.
De Paul is expected to bring both leadership and dynamism to Inter Miami’s midfield. His uncanny ability to change the tempo of a game was so effective in his early days at Racing in Argentina before his move to Europe in 2014. This could work wonders for his new team’s midfield, where he will likely partner up with American talent Benjamin Cremaschi and Paraguayan international Diego Gómez.