Lionel Messi lauds his compatriot's performance in his debut for Inter Miami.
Inter Miami have been extremely meticulous with their signings this summer and their biggest coup was securing the services of Rodrigo De Paul from Atletico Madrid on loan.
The move to Inter Miami has allowed him to unite with Lionel Messi with whom he shares a great camaraderie.
The 31-year-old combative midfielder made his debut for Inter Miami in a Leagues Cup clash against Atlas where they won 2-1 on Wednesday and Messi was seen lauding his compatriot following the game.
De Paul joined the Herons only a few days ago and not many people expected him to start or play for the entirety of the ninety minutes, but he proved everyone wrong with a decent performance.
"We've known each other for a long time, we played a lot of games together. It gives us a leap in quality in the squad. He comes with a lot of desire," Messi told ESPN following the 2-1 win over Atlas.
"He's just been training very little, and he ran all out, with everything that running here in the heat, humidity, and high temperatures entails."
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What did De Paul say about his debut game for Inter Miami?
De Paul has been extremely consistent across four seasons at Atletico Madrid and was also a vital player for Argentina in their World Cup triumph.
Speaking on his debut for Inter Miami, the 31-year-old said, "I didn't know if it was going to be ninety minutes. I probably thought it was going to be a little less, but I think I handled it well. I have a lot of faith in this team. He's [Messi] the greatest of all. I'm lucky to have been able to play with him for so many years on the national team, to have won so many titles, and now to share a club with him. It's an honor for me to tell my children about when they're older."
Inter Miami securing De Paul is an ambitious move as they aim to win the MLS title this season. They topped the Eastern Conference last season but failed to land the MLS trophy.
This season they are fifth in the points table and De Paul will be looking to help them push for the league crown whilst providing stability to the midfield and playing alongside Sergio Busquets.
However, his primary motive for this switch is to get accustomed to the playing conditions of the United States before next year's World Cup as Argentina aim to defend their crown.
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