Atletico Madrid star Rodrigo DePaul is the backbone of the Argentine national team, and he lifted the trophy as a starter in the 2021 Copa America and 2022 Euro-American Cup finals, but his most enthusiastic star effect was last year's World Cup in Qatar. Throughout the road to winning the championship, DePaul has swept the running and stealing king of the Argentine national team, and he has set a record for the highest number of successful passes of an Argentine player in a single World Cup game since statistics began in 1966, and fans have also ridiculed that "where there is Messi, there must be De Paul".
In addition, he is also the leader of the dressing room, willing to be Messi's bodyguard, and before the World Cup began, he performed passionately: "We can overcome all obstacles and bring a happy moment to every family, something to smile, an excuse to hug and, above all, make us very proud of our country." ”
Although De Paul's value has only increased by a mere 5 million euros, it is no accident that he can be favored by Juventus and Liverpool at the same time, and the fly in the ointment is that Atletico will not easily fulfill other people's reconstruction plans, or DePaul has a place in the Sheets Army.
Statistically, the Argentine, who made 30 La Liga appearances for Atletico last season, has scored two goals and seven assists, but Simeone pays more attention to the non-digital wealth of his compatriots: "DePaul's role in the offensive and defensive transition is world-class. It is worth mentioning that the boss personally called DePaul in 2021, and the transfer fee of 35 million euros and the five-year contract really reflect Atletico's determination to seek talent.
Atletico in the new season did not withstand much storms in the first two rounds, De Paul, who played a total of 153 minutes, suffered two consecutive "early clock-outs", but don't filter the personal value of Messi's bodyguards, looking ahead, Messi asked the top to bring in DePaul when he played for Barca, look at the moment, if the Bed Sheet Corps wants to wrench with Real Madrid and Barca, the Argentine is bound to play a pioneering role. Although public opinion once suspected that DePaul was delayed in attacking talent at Atletico, in the face of the big team's inquiry, the Atletico senior management hinted at the importance of "either activate the liquidated damages or get nothing".
Taking a step back, DePaul had seen Simeone as a candidate for the best coach when he was working at Udinese, and playing at Atletico was a dream come true, although the two years of cooperation did not maximize the combination of strong forces, at least the lack of weighty trophies. From another point of view, it stimulated the opportunity and ambition of each other to become bigger and stronger, at least Simeone boasted that the minimum goal for the new season is "we want to play competitive one game at a time", at least DePaul rejected Jeddah's three-year fat contract with an annual salary of up to 15 million euros, you know, you are a world champion, he only receives an annual salary of 3 million euros at Atletico.
Money and dreams are more important, everyone has a standard to weigh the gains and losses, to be precise, the choice is sometimes limited by the stage of self, getting older, worse status and increasing temptation are the opportunities for superstars to go to Saudi Arabia to pan for gold, De Paul, who decided to stay at Wanda Metropol, has the bottom line of his love.
Although he has complained about the sudden decrease in playing time, it is temperament to carry out his love to the end, and he redeems his past self by the way. If fans have any impression, De Paul, who landed in La Liga in 2014, did not have time to realize his status as Argentina's hopeful star, and suffered a head-on blow in his first appearance for Valencia, from the surging substitute to the loneliness of the red end, DePaul took only one minute.
Europe's top league is tough on newcomers? Public opinion prefers to believe that De Paul, who was only 20 years old at that time, was not ready, was demoted by Valencia as a substitute, and was loaned back to Atletico Argentina, which was the most realistic cruel response, and the "stay in the ocean" who came here experienced grievances that could not be hidden. Although the past is over, DePaul, whose contract with Atletico Madrid will expire until 2026 through his status as world champion, wants to truly reconcile with his past self. Interestingly, coach Simeone also inspired his disciples with grievances from the old days: "I believe that the experience in Valencia is a very meaningful memory of De Paul's growth. ”
Time has fairly examined DePaul's growth trajectory. He came from Udinese in 2021 and scored in La Liga after 2,051 days, and he was frequently regarded as a winning puzzle by the giants when he returned from the Qatar World Cup in 2022, and he clarified his poetry and distance after refusing Saudi pension in 2023, in addition to continuing to perfect the two-way good show with Atletico, he actively called on Messi to compete in the next World Cup.
"One more step I run, Messi can run one less step", this surging remark is still surging, as Messi's personal guard, DePaul naturally does not want to become an outsider of the Pampas eagles at that time, getting a high salary in Saudi Arabia may just be a momentary joy, maintaining the dream of the Argentine people in a better state at Atletico is the heart's desire, taking a step back, the 29-year-old DePaul cherishes his "surplus value".
Not long ago, DePaul broke up with his beautiful girlfriend, and with a cold face, he would not comfort himself with the words "frustrated in the love field, proud on the court", for sure, he is bound to pour more time and enthusiasm into the green field, so De Paul's words showing love for Atletico two years ago are not outdated: "I have the leadership temperament and the spirit of never giving up, this is my football." "How far can Atletico go in the new season? I hope that De Paul, who loves to stay behind, can escort Simeone, in fact, they are the same kind of people with explosive combat attributes, and victory and championship are the most natural pursuits.