Sports Desk:

Argentine World Cup winner Rodrigo De Paul has completed a move to Inter Miami, leaving Spanish club Atlético Madrid on a one-year loan.

The Florida-based club confirmed the transfer in an official statement after weeks of rumours linking the midfielder with a move to join his national teammate Lionel Messi.

Though the initial agreement is a one-year loan, Inter Miami holds an option to make the transfer permanent in 2026. The club’s co-owner David Beckham expressed his excitement about the signing, saying, “Rodrigo is a player I’ve admired for years. He’s brought so much to every team he’s played for; especially Argentina. His experience, passion and quality will be a valuable addition to our team. It’s thrilling to welcome another World Cup winner to Miami and to Major League Soccer.”

Atlético Madrid bid farewell to the 31-year-old midfielder with a post on X (formerly Twitter), ahead of Miami’s official announcement.

De Paul spent four seasons under coach Diego Simeone, making 187 appearances, scoring 14 goals and providing 26 assists.

“We wish Rodrigo De Paul all the best in his personal and professional future,” the Spanish club said in a statement.

In Miami, De Paul will join a star-studded midfield lineup that includes Benjamin Cremaschi, Barcelona legend Sergio Busquets and fellow Argentine Federico Redondo.

He’s already being hailed as one of the league’s top midfielders and his arrival adds to Miami’s growing roster of global football stars.

While earlier transfer rumours linked Miami with Neymar Jr. and Kevin De Bruyne, those deals didn’t materialize.

De Paul’s arrival, however, puts a definitive stamp on the club’s ambition to build a superstar team around Messi.

According to media reports, De Paul’s move comes with a hefty price tag—estimated at $18 million or roughly Tk 207.5 crore.

The financial terms raise questions about how Inter Miami is managing such spending under MLS regulations, but for the club, securing De Paul is seen as both a motivational and tactical boost.