Inter Miami will add another one of Lionel Messi’s close friends and a third World Cup champion to its roster.
Midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, 31, has agreed to join Messi and Inter Miami on a loan transfer from La Liga’s Atlético de Madrid, both sides announced on Friday, July 25. De Paul’s loan will last through the 2025 MLS season, and the deal includes an option to make the transfer permanent through the 2029 MLS season.
De Paul will be introduced before Inter Miami’s match against FC Cincinnati at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
“What brings me to Inter Miami is the desire to compete, win titles, to write the pages in the club’s history,” De Paul said in a statement. “It’s a club that is shaping up to be great, to have a long history, so that many people follow this incredible team.”
De Paul is considered one of Messi’s closest friends from the Argentine national team. Together, they won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024. They could also play together again with Argentina in the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Messi has yet to declare he will play in the next World Cup.
Inter Miami’s signing of De Paul also bodes well for the club’s aspirations to re-sign Messi, 38, who is signed through the rest of the 2025 MLS season. With the club in ongoing contract negotiations he could re-sign at least through 2026.
“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 … I’m excited to welcome another World Cup winning player not just to Inter Miami, but also to MLS,” Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham said in a statement.
Inter Miami co-owner Jorge Mas added: “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.”
De Paul had one year remaining on a five-year deal signed in 2021 with Atlético. Now, he’ll join Messi’s slew of former FC Barcelona teammates with the MLS club.
Messi joined Inter Miami with left back Jordi Alba and midfielder Sergio Busquets, the Spain World Cup champion, in July 2023. Luis Suarez joined them in 2024. And Javier Mascherano is in his first season coaching the squad.
It’s unclear when De Paul could debut. After Inter Miami hosts FC Cincinnati, they will begin the 2025 Leagues Cup tournament between MLS and Liga MX teams from Mexico. Inter Miami will host Atlas FC on July 30, Club Necaxa on Aug. 2 and Pumas UNAM on Aug. 6 in the first phase of the Leagues Cup tournament, which they won in 2023.
