It's impossible to undervalue the great season Rodrigo de Paul is having after years of receiving numerous criticisms. The world champion had never been able to find consistency at Atlético de Madrid, being far from his best version. Now, he seems to have completely turned his situation around at the Metropolitano and is already one of the undisputed starters.
He has participated in the creation of many goals and the fans are beginning to see him with the hierarchy and leadership that had been demanded of him so many times in Spain. Alongside Pablo Barrios, they form the usual double pivot in the red-and-white team, causing a legend like Koke to lose prominence. With all this, it's not surprising that from the sports management they are starting to consider making a decision about the midfielder's future.
Rodrigo de Paul, a step forward
So far, Atlético de Madrid's season is being outstanding, staying in the fight for all titles and showing a great level of play. In the Champions League, they have managed to enter the top eight, directly accessing the round of 16 and skipping a preliminary phase. Next week, they will play the quarterfinals of the Copa del Rey against Getafe at the Metropolitano, potentially reaching another semifinal.
One of the keys to this remarkable improvement compared to last season is Rodrigo de Paul, who has already managed to find consistency with the colchonero team. He has three goals and six assists so far, which means he has directly participated in nine goals for the red-and-white team. He also seems to have gained significant weight in the hierarchical aspect, something that has led the sports management to have to make a decision.
Renewal in the air
Rodrigo de Paul's contract ends in 2026, but everything points to negotiations starting to renew him before this season ends. One who has always had confidence in the player has been Simeone, who has always given him minutes on the field. Therefore, it's not surprising that Cholo has given him so many compliments in recent weeks, motivating him to continue on the same path.
The world champion is 30 years old and the danger of receiving an offer with an exorbitant salary is present, as there was already a club interested this month. West Ham United offered 25 million euros for his transfer, potentially putting a higher salary on the table than at Atlético de Madrid. However, it seems that the player is very happy in Spain and it doesn't seem like there will be any problem for him to sign a contract extension.