Inter Miami Pull Off Stunning Coup as Rodrigo De Paul Joins on Loan From Atletico Madrid
Inter Miami CF delivered exciting news to their supporters on Friday, officially announcing the acquisition of midfielder Rodrigo De Paul from Atlético Madrid prior to their upcoming fixture against FC Cincinnati.
The revelation arrived just hours after MLS handed suspensions to Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba for the match, following their absence from the 2025 MLS All-Star Game in Austin, Texas, providing a welcome boost to supporters.
"Building a squad that motivates our supporters to believe remains one of our core objectives, so we're delighted to secure a player of Rodrigo's quality," stated managing owner Jorge Mas. "He is a champion who has succeeded on the global stage; his goals align with ours at Inter Miami, and we are eager to pursue these objectives together."
De Paul, 31, arrives in Miami with one of the most impressive backgrounds ever seen in MLS at both club and national team levels. He's served as a crucial player alongside Messi in Argentina's triumphs, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup victory and 2021 and 2024 Copa América titles.
Additionally, he has accumulated nearly 500 club appearances with Racing Club, Valencia, Udinese and Atlético Madrid, recording 57 goals and 74 assists in all competitions.
Nevertheless, he joins Inter Miami on a loan arrangement and will be compensated through Targeted Allocation Money, meaning he will earn under $1.5 million in 2025, rather than becoming a Designated Player, as Miami already has Messi, Luis Suárez and Sergio Busquets under DP deals.
Under the agreement, Atlético Madrid also renewed De Paul's contract through 2027 and loaned him to Miami with a purchase obligation at $17.6 million, according to reports, which would establish a club-record transfer amount for the South Florida franchise.
Joining Inter Miami, De Paul becomes part of a team with lofty ambitions of capturing the 2025 MLS Cup, along with the 2025 Leagues Cup, with additional objectives of competing in the Concacaf Champions Cup and a second FIFA Club World Cup down the road.
Mas continued: "Multiple world-class players have already selected Inter Miami as their destination, and Rodrigo's addition to our squad represents another milestone as we progress on this mission to transform the sport's landscape in this nation and make our supporters proud."
When Will Rodrigo De Paul Debut for Inter Miami?
While Miami face Cincinnati at home on Saturday, seeking to advance from 41 points and fifth place in the Eastern Conference, De Paul is anticipated to make his Herons debut against Liga MX's Atlas in Leagues Cup competition on July 30.
Presently, he looks positioned to start in midfield alongside Busquets under head coach Javier Mascherano. However, that situation could shift, considering Busquets, 36, lacks a contract beyond 2025 and is unlikely to remain a DP going forward, with De Paul potentially promoted to that designation.
"What draws me to Inter Miami is the ambition to compete, capture trophies, to contribute to the club's legacy," said De Paul in his announcement. "It's an organization that is developing into something special, to establish a lasting legacy, so that many people support this remarkable team."