Football General Manager
- Inter Miami add De Paul from Atletico on loan
- Argentina international joins Messi at South Beach club
- Midfielder was on La Liga Team of the Year last season
Inter Miami have officially added Argentina international Rodrigo De Paul from Atletico Madrid, signing the midfielder initially on loan with a purchase option in 2026 to make the deal permanent through 2029. Miami co-owner David Beckham acknowledged he’s “excited” to bring in a player he’s admired for years.
“Rodrigo is a player I’ve admired for many years,” he said in a statement. “As a leader he has brought so much to the teams he has played for – especially with his national team Argentina. He brings experience, passion and quality to our team and to our city. I’m excited to welcome another World Cup-winning player not just to Inter Miami, but also to MLS.”
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The move was initially tipped by Atletico Madrid posting a farewell to their midfield star on social media hours before Miami officially announced the deal.
The 31-year-old spent four seasons at Atletico after joining from Serie A side Udinese. For Diego Simeone’s side, he made 187 appearances for Atlético, scoring 14 goals and providing 26 assists.
“From our club, we wish Rodrigo de Paul the best of luck in his future personal and professional endeavors,” the La Liga side said in a statement.
At Miami, De Paul will join a midfield alongside U.S. international Benjamin Cremaschi, former Barcelona star Sergio Busquets, and fellow Argentine Federico Redondo.
The 31-year-old will be viewed as one of the best midfielders in the league. It also ends months of speculation over Miami aiming to add another superstar. The team had previously been linked with Neymar and Kevin De Bruyne.
De Paul won’t come cheap for The Herons, with reports suggesting a purchase option of $17 million for the midfielder. Still, it is a massive upgrade for the team overall.
READ MORE: How does MLS move forward from Messi’s All-Star absence?
Internationally, De Paul has been nicknamed “Messi’s bodyguard” for his physical and aggressive play for La Albiceleste.
Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas pointed to the move as a sign of the club’s ambitions.
“Assembling a team that inspires our fans to dream continues to be one of our primary aspirations, so we’re thrilled to sign a player of Rodrigo’s caliber. He is a winner who has conquered the world stage; his ambitions match ours at Inter Miami, and we are hungry to achieve these goals together,” he said in a statement. “Several of the best players in global fútbol have already chosen Inter Miami as their home, and Rodrigo joining our roster is another landmark as we continue on this journey to change the trajectory of the sport in this country and make our fans proud.”
The Herons take on FC Cincinnati Saturday at Chase Stadium. De Paul is set to be unveiled at the match, according to the club.
Messi, Jordi Alba, and Maxi Falcon will be suspended for the match, with Messi and Alba being sanctioned by MLS for skipping the MLS All-Star Game, and Falcon due to yellow card accumulation.
