Inter Miami have recently exercised the option to permanently sign Lionel Messi’s Argentina teammate Rodrigo De Paul from Atletico Madrid. Following the Herons’ latest roster update, fans have pointed out how Major League Soccer’s (MLS) registration rules are convoluted.
So, what were the details of De Paul’s deal and why are MLS fans in uproar right now?
Lionel Messi-Led Club’s Latest Deal Attracts Reactions
Earlier on Thursday, Dec. 11, Messi’s side announced that they have triggered the optional purchase clause included in De Paul’s loan deal. They will add the box-to-box midfielder to their ranks for a reported sum of around $18 million.
De Paul, who played in 23 total matches for Messi’s club in 2025 after arriving on loan from Atletico, will claim one of Inter Miami’s Designated Player slots next month. His new Herons deal is said to keep him at the 2025 MLS Cup winners until December 2029.
Reacting to the recent move of Messi’s close friend, a fan wrote on X: “I know Inter Miami is in celebratory mode, but the whole Rodrigo De Paul loan was a farce. Everyone knew – and some protagonists even said publicly – he was going to be back in 2026. Yet roster rules reportedly did not allow for an automatic buy option.”
Another soccer fan replied to the aforementioned fan, writing on X: “Franco, everybody knows by this time that with MLS roster rules, if a team wants a player, and the league wants a player and the player wants to come, where there’s a will there’s a way. Same goes in the women’s league who are changing the rules to accommodate one player.”
Another fan echoed a similar sentiment, commenting on X: “The MLS has the stupidest rules in all soccer leagues around the world. Kudos to Miami for finding ways to avoid it.”
“you thought he was going back to ATM??” one user remarked.
In Friday’s club statement (via ESPN), Inter Miami also announced that they are in talks to extend Luis Suárez’s contract, set to expire later this month. They are also in discussions to permanently sign Tadeo Allende, Allen Obando, Rocco Rios Novo, and Baltasar Rodriguez.
READ MORE: MLS-Linked Superstar Urged To Seek Transfer Advice From Lionel Messi
On the other hand, the Messi-led side revealed that Fafà Picault and William Yarbrough are both set to be released at the end of this year. They also revealed the expiration of Marcelo Weigandt’s loan from Boca Juniors. Inter Miami currently have just 14 players, including captain Messi, under contract.
