Inter Miami agree $15m Rodrigo De Paul transfer with Atletico Madrid

Rodrigo De Paul has ‘verbally agreed’ to swap Atletico Madrid for Inter Miami and link up with fellow Argentine Lionel Messi in a deal worth €15 million.

According to transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, a €15m (£13m) verbal agreement is in place between all parties, with De Paul set to join Miami on an initial loan deal that includes a purchase clause.

Once that clause is triggered, the Argentina international will be tied to a four-year contract with the MLS club.

De Paul has cultivated a distinguished career, starring in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph and winning multiple Copa Americas in recent years. Despite still being an important player at Atletico, the 31-year-old seems ready for a new challenge and a chance to link up with compatriot Messi in Miami.

Rodrigo De Paul is nicknamed Lionel Messi bodyguard. (Photo by Marcelo Hernandez/Getty Images)

Nicknamed Messi’s ‘Bodyguard’, De Paul has repeatedly come to the aid of team-mate of the ex-Paris Saint-Germain man during Argentina matches.

De Paul himself has spoken about their almost telepathic relationship.

In 2018, he said: “Sometimes we just look at each other and know what’s needed to reorganise the team. It makes the process more fluid.”

De Paul who has 78 appearance for the Argentina national team could make his Miami debut alongside Messi later this month as the MLS team try and climb up the Eastern Conference table for the final third of the season.

It’s set to be a new dawn for David Beckham’s Intet Miami.