Reported Leeds United target Rodrigo De Paul has been told he’s a nightmare for opposition players – by none other than Lionel Messi.
The Barcelona superstar must be glad De Paul plays alongside him rather than against him.
The Udinese talisman has blossomed into a key player for the Argentina national team during the past few years, earning 21 caps since his debut in 2018.
And while De Paul continues to make a name for himself as a forward-thinking, defence-splitting attacking midfielder in Serie A, Messi, Angel Di Maria and co tend to take on those responsibilities at international level.
So De Paul deserves a lot of praise for repurposing himself as a tough-tackling, all-action, box-to-box enforcer in the blue-and-white stripes of Argentina.
His relentless energy and never-say-die attitude have made him a nightmare opponent for attackers across South America.
“Messi tells us all our rivals hate (Leandro) Paredes and me. We answer that we have to fight!” says the 26-year-old, who has formed a fine partnership with the PSG enforcer in La Albiceleste’s engine room (Marca).
“For me, the national team is the best. I always dreamed of pulling on the shirt. You don’t realise how big it is until you enter the field and you’re wearing those colours for the first time. You don’t want to take the shirt off.
“At Udinese, I have a lot of offensive responsibility and, in the Argentina national team, I assume a different role because we have many players in the attacking zone.
“I consider myself an intelligent footballer who can adapt to anything.”
It’s this sort of versatility and tactical awareness that has caught the eye of a certain Marcelo Bielsa, the ex-Argentina coach now pulling up trees in the Premier League with Leeds.
The Sun reports the Yorkshire giants are still keen to sign the £40 million-rated De Paul in the summer, having baulked at his hefty price tag last year.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
