Why will Rodrigo De Paul earn far less money than Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez after joining Inter Miami?

Add as a preferred source on Google

Inter Miami has officially announced the signing of Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul from Atlético Madrid, securing the World Cup winner initially on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy for a fee of approximately €15 million ($16.3 million USD).

De Paul, 31, links up with close friend Lionel Messi, further strengthening Inter Miami's bid for both domestic and continental trophies.

How much Money will Rodrigo De Paul earn at Inter Miami?

According to reports, De Paul's contract is set for four years once the transfer becomes permanent, keeping him at the club until 2029.

In the first season, however, De Paul will not immediately occupy a Designated Player (DP) slot due to MLS salary cap regulations-his combined fee and salary must fit under $850,000 for 2025 unless a DP spot opens up.

Upon permanent transfer and the opening of a DP slot, De Paul's salary is expected to rise substantially, potentially matching or exceeding top MLS earners in the range of $6-8 million per year.

At the moment, Lionel Messi earns around $20.4 million per year at Inter Miami, making him MLS's highest-paid player, while Luis Suárez reportedly earns about $1.5-$1.7 million annually.

Club co-owner David Beckham welcomed De Paul, stating that his leadership and winning mentality will be vital for Miami's ambitions. De Paul himself highlighted his desire to "compete, win titles, and write the pages of the club's history".

The move reunites three World Cup champions-Messi, Suárez, and De Paul-aiming to propel Inter Miami to a new era of success in Major League Soccer.

Rodrigo De Paul Career

The Argentine started his career at Racing Club in Argentina, before moving to Valencia in 2014. After spending a couple of seasons, he went to Udinese in 2016 and played till 2021. During his time in Italy, De Paul played 184 times and scored 34 goals. Since 2021, he was donning the Atletico Madrid shirt and played 187 times for them.

The 31-year-old has also played 78 times for Argentina and has won the FIFA World Cup in 2022, two Copa America titles.