Reported Leeds target explains why Lionel Messi loves him

Reported Leeds United goal Rodrigo De Paul has been informed he’s a nightmare for opposition gamers – by none aside from Lionel Messi.

The Barcelona famous person have to be glad De Paul performs alongside him moderately than in opposition to him.

The Udinese talisman has blossomed right into a key participant for the Argentina nationwide staff throughout the previous few years, incomes 21 caps since his debut in 2018.

And whereas De Paul continues to make a reputation for himself as a forward-thinking, defence-splitting attacking midfielder in Serie A, Messi, Angel Di Maria and co are likely to tackle these duties at worldwide stage.

So De Paul deserves quite a lot of reward for repurposing himself as a tough-tackling, all-action, box-to-box enforcer within the blue-and-white stripes of Argentina.

His relentless power and never-say-die angle have made him a nightmare opponent for attackers throughout South America.

“Messi tells us all our rivals hate (Leandro) Paredes and me. We reply that we’ve to battle!” says the 26-year-old, who has shaped a high-quality partnership with the PSG enforcer in La Albiceleste’s engine room (Marca).

“For me, the nationwide staff is one of the best. I all the time dreamed of pulling on the shirt. You don’t realise how huge it’s till you enter the sector and also you’re carrying these colors for the primary time. You don’t wish to take the shirt off.

“At Udinese, I’ve quite a lot of offensive duty and, within the Argentina nationwide staff, I assume a special position as a result of we’ve many gamers within the attacking zone.

“I contemplate myself an clever footballer who can adapt to something.”

It’s this kind of versatility and tactical consciousness that has caught the attention of a sure Marcelo Bielsa, the ex-Argentina coach now pulling up bushes within the Premier League with Leeds.

The Sun studies the Yorkshire giants are nonetheless eager to signal the £40 million-rated De Paul in the summertime, having baulked at his hefty price ticket final 12 months.

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