Inter Miami are reportedly preparing a transfer bid for Atletico Madrid’s dynamic midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, a close friend and long-time Argentina teammate of Lionel Messi.
With Messi’s future in Major League Soccer still up in the air, the Herons appear to be laying the groundwork for keeping their talisman content in Miami. One strategy, bringing in a familiar face.
Atletico Madrid have valued the 31-year-old box-to-box midfielder at $17 million, a price that may reflect the club’s recent acquisition of USMNT player Johnny Cardoso. A
According to The Miami Herald, team owner Jorge Mas is currently in Madrid, further fueling speculation around the potential deal.
A move for De Paul would certainly make headlines. The Argentine international remains one of the premier midfielders in world football and continues to play at an elite level.
However, such a transfer wouldn’t come easy for Inter Miami.
The Herons have voiced frustrations over MLS’s tight roster and salary cap restrictions, which have previously complicated pursuits of marquee names like Neymar and Kevin De Bruyne.
Unless a creative workaround is found, those same rules could hinder any move for De Paul. Moreover, with global interest in the player and fewer transfer constraints in other leagues, competition could be fierce.
There’s also the issue of squad structure. Central midfield is arguably Miami’s deepest position, with veterans like Sergio Busquets and rising talents like Benjamin Cremaschi already holding down the core.
Adding De Paul would likely require a reshuffling of roles, or someone playing out of position.
Yet, there’s a longer-term strategy at play. Busquets and Luis Suarez are both in the final year of their contracts, and De Paul could serve as a natural successor in midfield leadership.
“De Paul could be effectively a long-term replacement for Busquets,” the report notes.
Beyond tactics and logistics, there’s undeniable chemistry at stake. De Paul and Messi shared glory in Qatar, winning the 2022 World Cup with Argentina.
De Paul was also named to the 2024-25 La Liga Team of the Year, a testament to the level of quality he’d bring to MLS.
Inter Miami, fresh off a dominant win against Montreal, will return to action with a midweek showdown against the New England Revolution.
Whether De Paul will eventually join the team remains to be seen, but the intent from the Herons is clear.