Rodrigo De Paul gave details of the daily chats with his teammates in the National Team and defended Messi: “You can never whistle at a guy like him”

If there was anything that characterized the National Team led by Lionel Scaloni to reach the final stages of the last two Copa America, winning the last one and being the protagonist throughout the qualifying round to the Qatar 2022 World Cup was team play and group spirit. That was evident on the court, but also outside it. And that is what Rodrigo De Paul, a permanent man for the coaching staff albiceleste, referred to in an interview with TyC Sports.

“It is very strange when we are not together in the National Team. We try to communicate, obviously we are all the time by WhatsApp or call but it's not the same thing. We want to meet and have fun, and obviously put on the National Team shirt,” said the midfielder who has just been included in the Argentine list for the double date against Venezuela and Ecuador.

Undisputed holder, many point to the Atlético Madrid footballer as one of the current benchmarks. On his role in the group, he said: “Leader is Leo, with the biggest ones like Nico Otamendi or Fideo (Di María). I do feel respected, supported. They make me feel important and that gives you confidence and courage in what you do. I feel very comfortable in the role I play within the Argentine National Team, which does not have a specific name.”

And as for his personal relationship with Lionel Messi, he revealed: “The good vibes were immediate. The truth is that it was super natural. When he returned that we played in Madrid, against Venezuela, we already talked a lot during the first training session. And then it was given.” The good crumbs they made in the dressing room were reflected on the grass: “That's why we look for a lot of each other and we understand each other so much. What happened inside happened outside. That relationship was always nurtured, until it reached the point that now I think we understand each other by looking at each other.”

Al rosarino already misses him: “I want to meet him again, the last one wasn't there. Although we write to each other, we call each other, I want to have a mate, chat a little and ask him about everything how he is doing, which is the most important thing”. Meanwhile, he assured that the captain will enjoy spending a few days with his teammates again: “He is super used to responsibilities, pressures. It's a moment that has to happen because they were left out of the Champions League, but football is that. He has to be proud of everything he won. The dynamics of this sport sometimes give you and sometimes take you away. Coming to the National Team will do you good, it will change your head a little. I know he's very focused on everything to come.”

And he publicly endorsed it after part of the Paris Saint-Germain audience whistled him after the elimination of the Parisian cast in the Champions League: “What I think I can't say... It's little understandable, but good. I don't agree. People will have done it out of anger, but without thinking about it. A guy like Messi can never be whistled, anywhere in the world or for any reason. He gave the whole world a lot and made them enjoy, we must be grateful. But each one with his own thoughts.”

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