Following their historic MLS Cup victory,Inter Miami CF is solidifying its roster for continued success. Teh club announced Thursday it has exercised its option to permanently acquire Argentinian midfielder Rodrigo De Paul from Atlético de Madrid for approximately $17 million, a move that secures a key player who quickly integrated into the team’s championship run. the acquisition fills a Designated Player slot opened by recent departures and signals Inter Miami’s commitment to building a competitive squad around Lionel Messi and coach Javier Mascherano.
Inter Miami has officially exercised its option to purchase Rodrigo De Paul, securing the Argentinian midfielder from Atlético de Madrid on a permanent deal. The move, announced Thursday, solidifies a key piece of the squad that recently captured the MLS Cup title and signals the club’s intent to build on its success.
The club is also working to retain Argentinian forward Tadeo Allende, who set a single-postseason MLS record with nine goals while on loan from Celta de Vigo of Spain’s La Liga.
Inter Miami will pay approximately $17,000,000 for De Paul’s full transfer, and he will occupy a Designated Player (DP) slot. This opens up one of two DP spots vacated by the recent retirements of Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba following their championship victory on Saturday. The club also intends to extend De Paul’s contract through 2029. A “DP,” or Designated Player, allows clubs to sign up to three players whose salaries don’t fully count against the league’s salary cap.
De Paul made his debut for Inter Miami on July 31st, playing a full 90 minutes against Atlas of Mexico in the Leagues Cup. The match was notable for a post-game exchange and a subsequent embrace with teammate Lionel Messi, a reunion between longtime friends and partners on the field. He had arrived in Miami after only a couple of training sessions, yet still managed eight recoveries, completed 54 of 58 passes, and won half of his duels (3 of 6).
“I feel comfortable, I am very happy. I come to help,” De Paul said upon his arrival, praising the style of play implemented by new head coach Javier Mascherano: “Masche wants us to play, to come out with the ball from the back. I have a lot of faith in this team.” This marked the beginning of a journey that culminated in his first club title, having previously gone without a championship during his time with Racing, Udinese, and Atlético Madrid.
“You have to enjoy Messi and help him win titles, that’s the most important thing. He is the greatest of all time. I am lucky to play with him in the national team, it is a pride to also share the club,” De Paul stated, highlighting the strong relationship that extends beyond Inter Miami and the Argentinian national team. It’s widely understood that Messi’s presence was a significant factor in De Paul’s decision to leave a top European league and compete in MLS. Messi himself lauded De Paul’s impact, saying: “We’ve known each other for a long time. He gives us a leap in quality. He came with a lot of desire and today he ran everything, with the humidity and heat.”
In a statement released Thursday on X, Inter Miami announced decisions regarding its roster following the conclusion of its 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) campaign. Players with guaranteed contracts for 2026 include Noah Allen, Tomás Avilés, Israel Boatwright, Yannick Bright, Maximiliano Falcón, Ian Fray, Tyler Hall, Gonzalo Luján, Lionel Messi, Santiago Morales, David Ruiz, Mateo Silvetti, Telasco Segovia and Óscar Ustari. The statement also noted that Marcelo Weigandt, a right-back developed at Boca Juniors, “returns to Argentina following the conclusion of his loan.”
