Inter Miami has taken another major step forward in quality. In their Leagues Cup opener against Atlas, the Herons featured Rodrigo De Paul in the lineup for the very first time. Following his official unveiling last Saturday, the Argentine national team midfielder finally wore Javier Mascherano’s pink jersey.
“The reception from my teammates was fantastic. I already knew a few of them. I feel very comfortable and very happy at Inter. Hopefully, this will be the first of many wins,” De Paul said.
Respect for the World Cup winner didn’t last long—he was fouled just 30 seconds into the match. Positionally, De Paul played as a double pivot slightly ahead of Sergio Busquets, similar to his role with Argentina, although positioned more centrally in Mascherano’s 4-4-2 system.
Despite not having a proper preseason, De Paul showed confidence and efficiency: he completed 54 out of 58 passes. Unsurprisingly, his connection with Lionel Messi stood out—the duo constantly sought each other out, hinting at the chemistry they’ve developed with the national team.
“I generally don’t struggle with breaks. I’m always training and staying active. I didn’t know if I’d play the full 90 minutes, haha,” he admitted.
Key plays with Messi
Late in the match, with the score tied at 1-1, De Paul nearly set up the game-winner. He delivered a perfect through ball to Messi, who just missed the chance to chip Atlas goalkeeper Camilo Vargas in a one-on-one.
And that wasn’t all—deep into stoppage time, already beyond the fifth added minute, De Paul switched the play with a pinpoint cross-field pass to Messi, who started the move that led to Marcelo Weigandt’s game-winning goal.
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An irreplaceable piece in the making
With almost no training sessions, Rodrigo De Paul proved he’s ready to become a key figure for Inter Miami.
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“I want to help him (Messi) win titles. He’s the greatest of all time. I’ve had the privilege of playing with him for Argentina and winning many things. Now, sharing a club with him is a huge honor for me. I enjoy every moment of this and want to help him win as many titles as possible together,” said De Paul in the post-match press conference.
