Rodrigo De Paul, a potential Inter Miami signing, offered insight into Lionel Messi’s leadership role with the Argentina national team.
After more than 15 years of heartbreak, Lionel Messi finally found success with the Argentina national team starting with the 2021 Copa America — and he hasn’t looked back since. A crucial part of that transformation was the emergence of players who fit seamlessly around the forward’s needs, including Rodrigo De Paul, who has also emerged as a target for Inter Miami.
The 31-year-old midfielder has been a key figure in Argentina’s four recent titles, and is also one of Messi’s closest teammates. Rodrigo recently spoke about Leo’s role within the squad — not just as a player, but as a leader.
“When you’re that kind of person, like Messi or Maradona, you don’t need to talk much,” De Paul said during an interview with Simplemente Futbol. “He doesn’t need it. The game is decided by him. So he leads a lot by example. Without saying much.”
Explaining how that leadership shows up in daily life, the Atletico Madrid player shared: “If lunch is at 1 p.m., he’s already there at 12:58. So without saying anything, he forces you to show up early. And like that, five minutes before, the whole team is already sitting down waiting for lunch because they know he gets there early.”
De Paul called Messi a “super leader” and described how the forward’s professionalism carries into every aspect of his presence. “It’s like that with everything. The way he trains, the way he communicates, the way he speaks to the press,” Rodrigo noted. “Because when he gives an interview, that already tells us which direction we need to go.”
De Paul talks about his relationship with Messi
In the same conversation, De Paul explained how his close bond with Messi was formed. “We clicked right away,” he said. He went on to recall how, at the beginning of Lionel Scaloni’s tenure as head coach in the second half of 2018, Lionel wasn’t part of the squad and only rejoined the following year.
“In our first training session together, in March 2019, we started jogging and from that moment we were running side by side,” he recalled. “On the bus, I went to sit where I always did when he wasn’t around, and it turned out to be his seat, so we ended up sitting next to each other. Same thing happened on the plane. I was like, ‘Oh, (expletive), again.’ That broke the ice.”
Finally, De Paul reflected on the relationship he now shares with Messi. “Now he’s my friend, we talk almost every day,” said the midfielder. “I adore him. To me, he’s an incredible person. I’ve seen him make gestures that no one ever hears about. Gestures with people, with teammates — things no one sees but that really make an impact.”
Will De Paul join Messi at Inter Miami?
This interview comes at a time when rumors are swirling that Rodrigo De Paul could leave Atletico Madrid and join Inter Miami in the second half of the year. “It’s very advanced between the clubs, and there’s an 85% chance we’ll see Rodrigo De Paul at Inter Miami with Leo Messi,” reporter Fabrizio Romano said Monday on DAZN.
If the transfer is finalized, it would also be a strong indication that Lionel Messi will renew his contract with the club, which currently expires on December 31, 2025. In that case, the two would become club teammates for the first time — extending the partnership they’ve shared with Argentina since 2019.
From: bolavip.com
