Atletico Madrid and Inter Miami are on the verge of finalizing a transfer deal for Rodrigo de Paul. The Argentine midfielder made the move to Miami in the summer to reunite with compatriot Lionel Messi on a loan deal that included an option to buy.
De Paul, who has frequently been linked with a departure from Atletico, was the subject of interest from Inter Miami over the summer. Despite the heavy investments Miami made in their midfield, acquiring talents like Johnny Cardoso and Alex Baena, they were willing to let go of an influential player like De Paul, although reports indicated that Atletico manager Diego Simeone preferred to keep him.
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De Paul Deal to Become Permanent
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA: Rodrigo De Paul #5 of Atletico de Madrid passes the ball during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group B match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Botafogo FR at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California. (Image via Dave Bernal/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
According to reports from Marca and other sources, Inter Miami has confirmed it will activate the option to make the move permanent for €15 million. This deal is expected to be officially announced at the end of January. De Paul, now 31 years old, was nearing the end of his contract with Atletico, and the club chose to cash in rather than risk an expensive deal for a player in his thirties.
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De Paul arrived at Atletico in 2021 for €35 million from Udinese, and over his four-year tenure at the Metropolitano, he made 187 appearances, netting 14 goals and providing 26 assists.
Nahuel Molina to Stay at Atletico
Despite Juventus expressing interest both last summer and recently, Nahuel Molina is expected to stay with Atletico. The Argentine defender, who has been playing as a backup to Marcos Llorente at right-back this season, is appreciated for his performances, and the club is not considering a transfer.
Molina, 27, joined Atletico from Udinese in 2022 and still has two years left on his contract. Even though he has lost his starting position to Llorente, he remains ahead of new signing Marc Pubill in the current lineup.