De Paul, the most expensive signing: That first step of lace, passion for tattoos and the challenge of being Argentine with Simeone

In the left leg of Rodrigo de Paul (Sarandí, 1994) just remains an ink-free millimeter. The faces of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, the dog of him Rocky an

De Paul, the most expensive signing: That first step of lace, passion for tattoos and the challenge of being Argentine with Simeone

In the left leg of Rodrigo de Paul (Sarandí, 1994) just remains an ink-free millimeter. The faces of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary, the dog of him Rocky and a child playing football with the number 10 dorsal make up the Museum of Him. With the right, almost diaphanous, he draws those quarrels on the back of the rival defense that few guess, and, of course, many less manage to complete with the accuracy of him. Flashes who came caught the attention of Andrea Berta, who controls the league of his country in detail. There, with the Udinese T-Shirt, team of the temperate zone of the classification (14th) he became one of the most determining midfielders in Europe (34 goals and 36 assists in 184 games). Last season, he left the signature of him with nine as many and 10 passes, that is, he participated in almost half of the 42 o'clock of his team. For years, these virtues had aroused Simeone's interest for the compatriot of him.

Although the signing of Paul, the most expensive in the league (35 million and contract until 2026), it was officialized a month ago, its name takes time circling in the Cholo's head. A few days after winning the Copa del Rey at Bernabéu, in 2013, Atlético's coach asked him about Argentine players who captivated him the most. "I like strap, Vietto and Paul," he said without hesitation. Eight years later, Simeone, who continues in the same pulpito he occupied then, only with five more titles, become the coach with more titles (eight) and victories (316) in the history of athletic, he has had the opportunity to direct to those three promises.

Vietto (1993), as is well known, did not leave the slightest trail (three goals in 38 duels), except for the four million received last autumn by his transfer to the Hilal of Saudi Arabia. It is not the case of Correa (1995), which has a corner in the history of the entity. It was after that sculpting goal in Valladolid, on the way to the eleventh league. This season he will overcome the 300 games in Rojiblanco.

And a few weeks ago, after being the Compass of Argentina Champion of the Copa América (his was the decisive assistance to Di Maria before Brazil in the final), next to Correa, next to Messi, landed the only one who was missing. From Paul, that nothing has to do with that young man who went on tiptoe for the league with the Valencia T-shirt (2014-16), has left two times of pre-season (45 minutes before the Cádiz and 58 against Feyenoord), after Shorten a week your vacation, some good brushstrokes.

On paper, the perfect ingredient is guess to give a touch of extra flavor to the champion's core, where Koke will have at his side to someone who reads and thinks very similar. "Adaptation is not being a problem, it has come with a lot of desire and knows that it has a unique opportunity to make a jump in Him's race," who have lived with him in his early days in Madrid. The friendship of him with Correa, also represented by Agustín Jiménez, who agreed the operation, has paved the way of him. Both had time to talk during the Copa America, with the masted operation.

De Paul, who has tattooed the date of his debut as a professional with Racing on the right arm (February 10, 2013), he will wear the 5 who was borrowed Torreira last year, he used for a couple of years Thomas and walked with Tiago elegance , the example to follow for anyone who wants to dignify that dorsal.

"I see football in a very similar way to Simeone," he argued the midfielder in a club interview. That similar panorama has allowed him to share the center of the countryside in this atypical preseason with Lemar, Kondogbia, Koke or Herrera and this afternoon, in Balaídos (17.30 hours), the normal thing is that he has the first official minutes of him. "He will be an important player in transition, in his vision of him; He has a very good ball stop, he has a goal ... we will see if he can adapt immediately to what the team needs," Simeone said yesterday. Except strap and Augusto Fernández, none of the compatriots he ordered for Atlético (Gaitán, Kranevitter, Sosa, Ansaldi ...) settled. Another challenge for Paul, another challenge for Cholo.

Date Of Update: 15 August 2021, 05:13