'Is he thinking about leaving the national team?' - Rodrigo De Paul’s move to Inter Miami less than a year before the World Cup sparks criticism within Argentina media

Rodrigo De Paul’s arrival at Inter Miami is already making headlines - and not just in MLS circles. The Argentine midfielder, a key piece in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph, has joined The Herons on loan from Atlético de Madrid, a move that has generated negative reactions in his home country just months before the 2026 World Cup.

"Does De Paul want to play with less pressure and in a second-tier league just to enjoy himself alongside Messi? Is he not concerned about joining a tournament with little prestige, where winning or losing doesn’t really matter to anyone? Is he thinking about leaving the national team, or does he simply feel he’s completed a cycle under the demanding Diego Simeone and now wants to play with less stress?" wrote Argentine journalist Alejandro Fabbri for TyC Sports.

“De Paul’s departure from Atlético Madrid to play for Inter Miami, in a league considered to be of a lower level, surprised both insiders and outsiders alike, as he joins his friend Lionel Messi,” reads an article in the renowned Argentine outlet Diario Olé.

News of De Paul’s departure didn’t sit well with Atlético de Madrid fans, either. The midfielder played 187 matches for the club over four seasons and was named to La Liga Team of the Year last season. After the club made the move official on social media, many users flooded the post with insults and backlash over his decision. Comments like “Thanks for leaving and never coming back,” and “Just go and don’t return,” were among the more common - and milder - reactions from Aleti supporters.

“The excitement that brought me to Inter Miami is the desire to compete, to win titles, to help write this club’s history,” said Rodrigo De Paul in an official statement released by the team. “It’s a club that is being built to become great, to create a legacy, and for many people to follow this incredible team,” he added.

Rodrigo De Paul will become the third 2022 World Cup winner to play in MLS, following in the footsteps of Thiago Almada and, more recently, Lionel Messi. He will be the 18th World Cup champion in history to join MLS.

The Herons will host FC Cincinnati this Saturday in a match where they’ll be without Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba, both suspended after skipping the All-Star Game.