Something happens with Rodrigo de Paul (27 years old). From star signing last summer, to fifth midfielder, the last on the list. Ahead and Herrera, Kondogbia and, of course, Koke. That is his influence today at Atlético. little. Much less than expected, when the rojiblanco club paid 40 million for his transfer to Udinese.
So, in July, Rodrigo de Paul was that Serie A midfielder who all the greats wanted. Because of his calm, because of his handling of the ball, his changes of orientation, his remotely controlled long passes, always at the foot of the striker. The midfielder who passed through Valencia without tattoos, very young, and inglorious, he had taken a step forward in his four seasons in Udine, to become a midfielder who decides matches. He arrived at Atleti, moreover, with the tact of a title still fresh on the fingers America’s Cup. Messi’s first big title with Argentina. From Paul, decisive. He landed in Madrid to carry Tiago’s 5 on his back, big words, and as the reincarnation of Cholo. He remembered him. The talent was joined by the claw, the character. He is one of the few signings in the rojiblanco club that he did not even play with Simeone seemed to need. He was born. And yet…
no lace
And yet, seven months later his presence has been fading. De Paul doesn’t fit in at Atleti. The rojiblanco De Paul is more reminiscent of the one who passed through Valencia than the one he took root in Italy. If other signings, like Cunha, have landed on their feet, he has not. His circle in the locker room is reduced. Correa, Suárez and little else. A lack of fit that is palpable in the field. Before the turning point was the entry of Kondogbia, Herrera and Lodi in the Osasuna and United week, Atlético’s midfield with Koke and De Paul was a disaster. Neither built nor destroyed. Long balls like bombs was his game. to nowhere.
Kondogbia’s injury opens a gap for himthat of returning to the eleven and establishing himself in this one when it is March and far, far away is that photo from August, when Simeone, finished one of the first training sessions in the Cerro of the season, took two balls and sat with him in the center from the field, session finished, the others in the shower, as I did with Gabi, his first great soldier, his great captain. That’s what De Paul was aiming for.