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Rodrigo de Paul has become, in this Argentina team, what Jose Manuel Pinto once had at Barcelona, or Luis Suarez later: teammates with whom Messi feels instantly at home.
Their bond was forged on international duty. Until then, the midfielder’s only connection with Messi was a photo he proudly posted on social media after the Valencia-Barcelona match.
One afternoon, he noticed Messi leaving practice alone, looking subdued. Worried, de Paul waited about 40 minutes before knocking on her door.
“A mate and fancy playing Truco?”
A friendship began, with its own strict etiquette. Mates, drinks, every morning together in De Paul’s room. As for the arrival, first Leo, then the other members of the squad. If they get up too early, they have to wait for the moment to go to De Paul’s room, no one can jump the routine.
De Paul sometimes calls Messi ‘El Pequeno’ (the little one), even though he is the oldest in the room.
He needles him, treating him like a normal guy instead of a monument, because that’s what Messi often doesn’t want: to be Leo, not Messi. De Paul knows her well enough to know when to leave her alone.
Walking onto the field, Messi leads the way, De Paul by his side, the rest of the squad fanning back in almost a wedge – protecting their leader like a street gang.
For many of this team, Messi was never a first team-mate, he was a childhood idol on television, as some of them picked up a ball.
The entire squad wears the same boot, the Adidas Audister Messi. For his birthday in June, the players wore a T-shirt with their picture with Leo during his years with the national team.
