De Paul joins Messi at Inter Miami on initial loan from Atletico
Lionel Messi is getting another bodyguard.
Decorated midfielder Rodrigo De Paul completed his move from Atletico Madrid to Inter Miami on Friday.
The 31-year-old will spend the rest of the 2025 MLS season on loan in Miami. The deal includes an option to make the transfer permanent.
The purchase clause will be worth around $17 million, sources told Tom Bogert of GiveMeSport. That would make De Paul one of the most expensive incoming transfers in MLS history.
The move unites the World Cup winner with his international teammate Messi. De Paul is often dubbed Messi's on-field protector when the two suit up for Argentina.
"Rodrigo is a player I've admired for many years. As a leader he has brought so much to the teams he has played for - especially with his national team Argentina," Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham said. "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."
Miami doesn't have an open Designated Player (DP) spot on its roster. Those three slots are occupied by Messi, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets. Miami is adding De Paul to the roster using Targeted Allocation Money (TAM), and he'll become a DP when his deal is made permanent, according to Bogert.
Busquets' contract expires at the end of the year, which would open up a slot. Messi's deal is also slated to run out at the same time, but he's expected to sign a contract extension with the club.
De Paul should provide a significant boost for a Miami side looking to gear up for a deep playoff run this year. The combative midfielder, who won the World Cup in 2022 and Copa America in both 2021 and 2024 playing alongside Messi, has 78 caps for Argentina.
He's made 187 appearances for Atletico since joining the Spanish club from Udinese in 2021.