Inter Miami has reached an agreement to loan De Paul until the end of 2025. Afterward, the American club will pay 17.5 million USD for a permanent transfer from Atletico Madrid. The 31-year-old midfielder will earn a salary of 12 million USD per year with his new team, 3 million more than he earned in Spain.
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De Paul (left) and Messi (center) parade to celebrate the 2022 World Cup in Argentina. Photo: AP |
De Paul (left) and Messi (center) parade to celebrate the 2022 World Cup in Argentina. Photo: AP
De Paul is one of the top defensive midfielders playing today. Over the past four seasons, he has played 187 matches for Atletico, including 134 La Liga matches and 32 Champions League matches. In the 2024-2025 season, he was named to the La Liga Team of the Season.
With the Argentina national team, De Paul is known as Messi's "bodyguard." He has significantly supported the 38-year-old forward in winning four international titles in the past four years: the 2021 and 2024 Copa America, the 2022 CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions, and the 2022 World Cup. De Paul was named to the Team of the Tournament in both Copa America victories.
De Paul's arrival will add depth to Inter Miami's midfield. The team currently features 37-year-old Sergio Busquets, along with younger players Federico Redondo, Benjamin Cremaschi, Yannick Bright, Telasco Segovia, Santiago Morales, and Tadeo Allende.
De Paul is the 4th teammate to join Messi at Inter Miami. Messi has already attracted three former Barcelona teammates: Busquets, Jordi Alba, and Luis Suarez.
Messi has played for Inter Miami since 7/2023. In his first two years, he won the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2024 Supporters' Shield. In 2025, Messi helped Inter Miami reach the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup and the round of 16 of the Club World Cup. They still have a chance to defend the Supporters' Shield, having earned 41 points after 21 matches, seven points behind the leader FC Cincinnati with three games in hand. The league will conclude after 34 rounds.
Thanh Quy (according to AS)
