Messi’s bodyguard
© Imago
Rodrigo de Paul, the midfielder known as Lionel Messi’s Bodyguard, has with the “Marca“Talked about his transfer from Atlético Madrid to Inter Miami.” I want to set an example that not only players come here at the end of their career or as a springboard, but that wearing the Inter-Miami jerseys means a real connection and commitment to the association, “said the Argentine world champion of 2022.
With a market value of 25 million euros, he not only ranks in the club-internal ranking before Messi, which is rated at the age of 38 at EUR 18 million, but is currently the most valuable MLS professional.
De Paul moved to Miami with loan, where around 70 percent of the population have Latin American roots. The Messi club secured a purchase option of 15 million euros. In his new team, de Paul is the 11th Argentinian in the current squad – but national players are only he and Messi. When asked whether it could become a problem for Argentina, that service providers such as Messi and he play in the weaker MLS, said de Paul: “No, really not. I know my teammates very well. I think the term ‘competitiveness’ is often misunderstood – from the public or some journalists. Nobody has to teach us how to compete, because we have to say that we have to go since childhood. To be part of a World Cup – we know what it means to play a world championship. ” There were seven professionals in Argentina’s last international play cadre who were away from Europe’s top 5 leagues.
With Messi, de Paul has been on the lawn 62 times to date-61 times for the Albiceleste and once for Miami. If it comes to the central midfielder, many missions are added. The 8-fold winner of the Ballon d’Or received his “new” player.
“Messi was waiting for me. He hugged me with a familiarity, with the feeling that we managed to play in a club at some point. And now it happened to both of us in a very special moment. A year before the title defense at the World Cup – that was really nice,” said de Paul. Messi’s contract ends on December 31, 2025, and Inter Miami tries to convince him with a pension contract.
So that the superstar feels comfortable, Inter already got Messi’s ex-Barça colleagues Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Luis Suárez, whose contracts also expire at the end of 2025 – only Alba is bound until December 31, 2027.
De Paul is waiting for 1st club title: “Great hope with Messi by my side”
“I would love to continue playing together with Messi. I would like to experience as many games as possible – I would like to want to never stop. I will try to extend his career as long as possible. Hopefully it will be many moments together.” As the main reason for his transfer, De Paul made his friend: “To be honest, I decided to change this change because Leo was there. I did it without knowing what would happen to his contract – whether he stays or not.”
While de Paul won everything there is to win with Argentina, he is waiting for his first title at the club level. “Of course I still have an open calculation. But that’s part of life – with its good and bad sides, with its lessons. And what makes me hope? Quite simply: We play with the best of everyone, right? And from personal experience I can say: Whenever I had it at my side, I have won a World Cup, two copa América and a Finalissima. Now that I have Messi at my side in the club.”