We hope Inter Miami and its supporters realize what a precious thing they’ve stumbled upon over the past couple of seasons. Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets—this blend of defense, midfield, and attack is enough to make any starting XI look golden, let alone intimidate opponents. And just when everyone thought the David Beckham-owned club was done, they added even more firepower in the form of Rodrigo De Paul.
Sure, it’s not a permanent signing but rather a temporary loan deal—still, it makes the Herons’ roster more star-studded than ever. Then again, it raises the question of how exactly Miami managed to pull off this move, considering they already have four marquee players in the squad. Not to mention, the MLS rulebook contains unique roster regulations that raise more than a few eyebrows, both financially and in terms of player accommodation.
So, how exactly did Miami manage to do all of this without any difficulties? Well, senior Athletic writer Felipe Cardenas touched upon the matter. “There’s still a lot to take apart here,” he began during his guest appearance on the latest instalment of the CBS Sports Golazo America’s Morning Footy show. “It’s a big onion that needs to be peeled. Like, how did De Paul come in?”
Cardenas insisted that on paper, the 31-year-old Argentinian midfielder arrives as a TAM player until the end of January, with his parent club Atlético Madrid covering a chunk of his salary. Then, the following season, he will be taking the Designated Player spot. However, the soccer insider highlighted that acquiring the DP slot would mean that either Sergio Busquets would have to move on or take a huge pay cut to become a TAM player himself.
These are exactly the kind of things that make Cardenas question the MLS roster rules and sometimes even feel unconfident over explaining them, insisting “what’s happening with Miami is a microcosm of what’s happening across the league.” Interestingly, the journalist even recalled a surprising statement of Gonzalo Pineda, coach of Liga MX side Atlas, who faced the Herons earlier today in the Leagues Cup opener.
Though the Florida-based club secured a 2-1 win over the Mexican side, the pre-game presser saw Pineda take a dig at Inter Miami, calling them a “team with five designated players.” Not to mention that Gonzalo himself was a part of the MLS before and knows the league quite well, having coached Atlanta United for a brief period.
So Miami boasts big names like Busquets, Alba, Suarez, and now Rodrigo De Paul, while also paying Messi the highest salary in the MLS, which surely raises doubts. “It might seem like only Miami can pull this off, but this is the situation the league creates. And for now, it’s been done. We’ll see how it plays out when he actually signs — and what 2026 looks like,” concluded Pineda.
Notably, the MLS allows each team to have a certain number of international players on their roster, starting with eight international slots. However, these slots can be traded between teams, meaning a club can end up with more or fewer than eight. Because of this flexibility, there’s no league-wide cap on the total number of international players across all MLS teams at any given time.
Either way, the Rodrigo De Paul transfer certainly raises questions. While it keeps Miami on thin ice, it also promises to deliver a promise that ardent fans have long been hoping for!
Is Rodrigo De Paul an assurance for Inter Miami to see Lionel Messi commit?
Lionel Messi’s future at Inter Miami has been a topic of debate for some time now. With his contract set to expire in December, recent developments—such as his one-match suspension for skipping the MLS All-Star Game—have only intensified concerns about his stay with the Herons, sparking speculation about a possible departure, even though there is a little bit of clarity surrounding his future.
Feb 1, 2024; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi (10) runs on the field against Al-Nassr during the second half at Kingdom Arena. Mandatory Credit: Victor Fraile-USA TODAY Sports
However, the arrival of Messi’s Argentinian teammate and close friend only elevates his close circle at Fort Lauderdale and even makes him stay for the time being. At least ESPN journalist Ale Moreno believes. “I think it’s a good signing for Inter Miami. I still have concerns about this team defensively, but he will go a long way in solidifying his presence and the presence of the midfield in Inter Miami, allowing them a platform from which Lionel Messi can do the things that he does so often for this club.”
So there is a reason to hope that De Paul’s arrival can see Lionel Messi stick around for long. How will that happen without getting scrutinized for having such mega stars in the team is something that remains to be seen.
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