'Versatility and personality' - Manager Javier Mascherano praises impact of Leo Messi ally Rodrigo De Paul for Inter Miami

World Cup winner Rodrigo De Paul has wasted little time making his mark in MLS. The 31-year-old midfielder, on loan from Atlético de Madrid, joined Inter Miami this summer and has emerged as a vital part of the Herons’ midfield while also serving as a trusted on-field ally for Lionel Messi.

Mascherano praised De Paul’s versatility and intelligence, stressing that his value goes beyond numbers.

“For us, the most important thing is performance on the pitch,” Mascherano said. “He has a gift - in many situations it’s not about how much you run, but how you run. Rodrigo has given us a lot since his arrival. He brings versatility and personality.”

De Paul has featured in nine league matches, tallying four assists and scoring once during the Leagues Cup, a tournament in which Miami eventually reached the final. His arrival has helped stabilize a midfield that lost Federico Redondo (to Spain’s Elche) and Benjamín Cremaschi (to Italy’s Parma) earlier in the year.

Questions remain about availability for upcoming MLS fixtures, as both De Paul and Messi have been called up by Argentina for October friendlies. The schedule could affect Inter Miami’s pending match with Atlanta United, set around the same time as Argentina’s game against Venezuela in Miami.

Winless in their last two matches and chasing the top spot in the Eastern Conference, Miami will try to bounce back on Saturday, when they face the Revolution.