Latest news with #SergioBusquets
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rodrigo De Paul to join Leo Messi at Inter Miami, AP source says
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Another close friend of Lionel Messi will soon play in South Florida. Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul has agreed to contract terms with Inter Miami, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The 31-year-old De Paul will leave Atlético Madrid — where he's played for four years — for Major League Soccer on a short-term contract with Inter Miami that could potentially lead to a multiyear deal. He had one year left on his contract at Atlético Madrid. ESPN first reported the deal. De Paul and national team buddy Messi hope to continue to elevate Inter Miami, which has reached historic heights since Messi's arrival in 2023. De Paul could be in uniform with Inter Miami in time for the start of Leagues Cup play later this month, though his exact arrival date is uncertain, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the signing has not been announced. The deal, which has been in the works for several weeks, comes as negotiations between Messi and Inter Miami on a contract extension remain ongoing. The nine-time Ballon d'Or winner's current contract expires at the end of December, and he is expected to return to the club that he's played with for the past two years. The signing of De Paul adds another veteran with whom Messi already has chemistry, along with 37-year-old Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez, 38, and Jordi Alba, 36. De Paul has been a key player for Atlético Madrid since joining the Spanish club from Italian team Udinese in 2021. He helped Argentina win the World Cup in 2022 and was part of Copa America victories in 2021 and 2024. Messi and Inter Miami are coming off a historic season in 2024 in which they finished with the best record in MLS history and the best winning percentage in league history, only to be quickly bounced from the MLS playoffs. They're on track to again be in contention for the MLS Supporters' Shield. ___ AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds contributed from Las Vegas. ___ AP soccer:
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Rodrigo De Paul to join Leo Messi at Inter Miami, AP source says
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Another close friend of Lionel Messi will soon play in South Florida. Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul has agreed to contract terms with Inter Miami, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The 31-year-old De Paul will leave Atlético Madrid — where he's played for four years — for Major League Soccer on a short-term contract with Inter Miami that could potentially lead to a multiyear deal. He had one year left on his contract at Atlético Madrid. ESPN first reported the deal. De Paul and national team buddy Messi hope to continue to elevate Inter Miami, which has reached historic heights since Messi's arrival in 2023. De Paul could be in uniform with Inter Miami in time for the start of Leagues Cup play later this month, though his exact arrival date is uncertain, said the person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the signing has not been announced. The deal, which has been in the works for several weeks, comes as negotiations between Messi and Inter Miami on a contract extension remain ongoing. The nine-time Ballon d'Or winner's current contract expires at the end of December, and he is expected to return to the club that he's played with for the past two years. The signing of De Paul adds another veteran with whom Messi already has chemistry, along with 37-year-old Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez, 38, and Jordi Alba, 36. De Paul has been a key player for Atlético Madrid since joining the Spanish club from Italian team Udinese in 2021. He helped Argentina win the World Cup in 2022 and was part of Copa America victories in 2021 and 2024. Messi and Inter Miami are coming off a historic season in 2024 in which they finished with the best record in MLS history and the best winning percentage in league history, only to be quickly bounced from the MLS playoffs. They're on track to again be in contention for the MLS Supporters' Shield. ___ AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds contributed from Las Vegas. ___ AP soccer:
New York Times
10-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Inter Miami in talks to sign Rodrigo De Paul from Atletico Madrid
Inter Miami is in talks over signing Atletico Madrid midfielder Rodrigo De Paul. Miami are pursuing a deal for the 31-year-old, an Argentina international teammate and close friend of Lionel Messi, who is out of contract at the end of the 2025-26 season. De Paul has been on the Major League Soccer side's radar for some time but interest accelerated following its exit from the Club World Cup last month. Advertisement Atletico is open to a deal but should an agreement not be reached, the La Liga club would not have a problem incorporating him back into Diego Simeone's first-team squad. As a high-profile, highly-paid player, De Paul's arrival would raise questions over Sergio Busquets' long-term future with he, Messi and Jordi Alba currently holding the three Designated Player (DP) spots on Miami's roster. Alba signed a new deal earlier this year and Messi is soon expected to do the same. De Paul would have to arrive either on a fee plus salary that totals approximately $850,000 for 2025, or else a DP spot would have to open up. The most likely scenario for a DP spot opening up would be for Busquets to retire midseason, but that would surprise many observers around MLS. The assumption would instead be that De Paul would join on a more modest, cap-friendly salary now before negotiating a new deal in 2026. De Paul has been a first-team regular for Atletico since joining the Spanish club from Udinese in 2021. The midfielder helped Argentina win the World Cup in 2022, while he was also a part of the team's Copa America victories in 2021 and 2024. He featured in all but four of Atletico's La Liga matches last season, as they secured a third-place finish. He also played in each of his side's Club World Cup matches this summer prior to their group-stage exit. De Paul has recorded 14 goals and 26 assists in 187 appearances for Simeone's side, setting up 10 goals in 53 matches during the 2024-25 campaign. Ahead of the World Cup in 2022, De Paul said he is close friends with Messi, and the manner in which he plays for Argentina often complements the Miami forward. Speaking about his playing relationship with Messi, De Paul said in 2022 his aim is to 'make him run less' and give him 'more space to play with.' Simeone heaped praise on De Paul after he played a key role in Atletico winning eight consecutive La Liga matches from November to January during the 2024-25 season. 'He's an established footballer, a world champion,' he said. He's very important for us, with a lot of personality, and we hope he continues this way. We'll demand this from him because it's what we need.' Advertisement After coming through the youth ranks at Racing Club, De Paul joined Valencia in 2014, before going back on loan to the Argentinian club in 2016. He made 44 appearances for Valencia before departing for Udinese later that year, where he went on to play 184 times.
South Wales Guardian
10-07-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Lionel Messi makes MLS history in Inter Miami win over New England
The Argentine international opened the scoring in the 27th minute with a left-footed shot to the bottom left corner of the box at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. He followed up just before half-time, converting a through ball from Sergio Busquets. Witnessing history. 👑 Lionel Messi becomes the first player in league history to score multiple goals in four consecutive league matches. — Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 10, 2025 Messi had two more shots on target blocked in the second half, but Miami would not find the net for the remainder of the game. Carles Gil got New England on the board in the 80th minute, firing a right-footer from outside the box. The win leaves Inter Miami fifth in the Eastern Conference, with games in hand on the sides above them following their Club World Cup exploits. Messi also scored twice against Montreal last week in his club's first outing after their exit from the Club World Cup. Miami host Nashville SC in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Sunday.
Glasgow Times
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Lionel Messi makes MLS history in Inter Miami win over New England
The Argentine international opened the scoring in the 27th minute with a left-footed shot to the bottom left corner of the box at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. He followed up just before half-time, converting a through ball from Sergio Busquets. Witnessing history. 👑 Lionel Messi becomes the first player in league history to score multiple goals in four consecutive league matches. — Major League Soccer (@MLS) July 10, 2025 Messi had two more shots on target blocked in the second half, but Miami would not find the net for the remainder of the game. Carles Gil got New England on the board in the 80th minute, firing a right-footer from outside the box. The win leaves Inter Miami fifth in the Eastern Conference, with games in hand on the sides above them following their Club World Cup exploits. Messi also scored twice against Montreal last week in his club's first outing after their exit from the Club World Cup. Miami host Nashville SC in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Sunday.
