Rodrigo De Paul reveals Lionel Messi’s key role in negotiations to move to Inter Miami
Rodrigo De Paul has officially joined Inter Miami and made his debut in the club’s 2-1 Leagues Cup win over Atlas. In his first week as a Heron, the Argentine midfielder revealed the pivotal role Lionel Messi played in facilitating the move to South Florida.
After forming a strong bond with Messi on the Argentina national team, De Paul became one of the star’s closest allies—on and off the pitch—helping deliver multiple international trophies. Now, that partnership has extended to club level. On talks with ESPN, he shared insights on the reasons that triggered his move to the MLS.
“We always had the dream — Leo (Messi) and I — of playing together at club level, of bringing what we achieved with the Argentina national team into a club setting. It was a dream that slowly started to take shape, especially since everyone knew I only had one year left on my contract with Atletico Madrid. Jorge (Mas) began working on it, traveling to Madrid — he has a strong relationship with Atletico’s owner.
“As it started to become a real possibility, the idea gained momentum. But the foundation of it all was being able to share a club with Leo and have the chance to be together every day on the pitch and in the locker room,” De Paul added, emphasizing their shared ambition.
De Paul’s signing has also been viewed as a strategic move by Inter Miami to bolster the club’s appeal and potentially encourage Messi to extend his stay. But it wasn’t just personal chemistry driving the transfer—Messi reportedly played an active role in getting the deal across the line.
“I felt incredibly happy because he (Messi) had the greatness to be very involved in the negotiations — not from a technical or business side, but making sure things were moving in the right direction and that it wouldn’t all fall apart,” De Paul revealed. “He was really on top of everything. As soon as it became official, he called me, and the moment I arrived in Miami, he came to the club to greet me, to check how I was, and see if I needed anything. It was a very special and gratifying moment,” he added.
Beckham’s role in the move
While Messi’s influence was the main catalyst for De Paul’s move, the midfielder also credited Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham for playing a key role. For De Paul, the chance to work alongside a childhood idol was too good to pass up.
“Obviously, having David (Beckham) here also played a role. I really liked his style of play, his personality, and the way he lived the game. In our conversations, he shared his desire for me to be part of his project. He’s really committed — he built this from the ground up. When people as important to our sport as David show that kind of interest, it definitely influences your final decision,” said De Paul on Beckham’s impact on the move.