Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, a recent signing for Inter Miami, revealed this Friday that he always harbored the desire to play alongside his compatriot Lionel Messi in the same club. This aspiration was a crucial factor that drove him to leave Atlético de Madrid and join Major League Soccer (MLS).
The Meeting with Messi, a Dream Come True
“With Leo we always had the dream or the desire to play together in a club, to share every day. Every time we met with the national team, the day-to-day was incredible,” De Paul declared in his first press conference as a player for Inter Miami, the team with which he has already debuted in the victory against the Mexican Atlas.
De Paul, who joined the ‘Herons’ a week ago, emphasized that, despite receiving offers from European clubs, the possibility of reuniting with Messi was decisive.
“I wanted that feeling of playing every day with the best of all. It was always a dream that over time we were talking about, and the possibility arose from one day to the next.”
The soccer player expressed his gratitude towards Atlético de Madrid, assuring that he always had the last word in his transfer.
“Obviously, I would have loved to win a title with Atlético de Madrid. When I went there, it was with that hope. I think that in many stretches of all these seasons we were close, but it couldn’t be achieved,” he lamented.
Aspirations in MLS and Inter Miami
Regarding his arrival in the United States and MLS, De Paul stated that he is closely following the league, especially since Messi’s arrival. In addition, he expressed his desire to be part of the league’s growth and Inter Miami.
“It’s a league that is pure growth, beyond Leo’s arrival, I think Inter Miami is starting to write its pages and I would very much like to be a part of them,” he indicated.
Finally, De Paul mentioned the 2026 World Cup as his main goal, revealing that he spoke with the Argentine coach, Lionel Scaloni, before finalizing his signing.
“For me, the most important thing is the Argentine national team. I spoke with Scaloni and was very clear with him to know what he needed from me to continue being part of the project of our national team, which has given us so much joy,” De Paul stated.
