Recently, Argentine star De Paul participated in the recording of the famous domestic program “No One Speaks,” sharing some interesting anecdotes about his relationship with Messi and emphasizing that Scaloni’s coaching is a crucial factor behind the national team’s remarkable achievements.
The story of how De Paul helped Messi integrate into the younger group within the national team is no longer a secret in Argentina, with Messi himself having recounted how important De Paul’s assistance was. When asked about this, De Paul candidly replied, “During the last transition of generations within the national team, I half-jokingly tried to get Messi to join the younger group. I just did my part, and he agreed. Over time, I realized how much Messi cherished the opportunity to step down from his pedestal and blend into the team.”
De Paul is also grateful for Messi’s support as captain during tough times, saying, “There was a period when I faced criticism, but personally, criticism related to football doesn’t bother me. Before the World Cup in Qatar, I felt very hurt by comments suggesting I wasn’t focused on the World Cup. At that time, Leo (Messi) helped me a great deal.”
De Paul refuses to take Argentina’s current success for granted and proudly explains, “We won the Copa America after defeating the previous American champions, the Continental Cup after defeating the previous European champions, and the World Cup after defeating the previous world champions. We remain undefeated in the World Cup qualifiers and have beaten Brazil. It has been an extraordinary six years for the Argentine national team, with a kind of magic surrounding what is happening.”
According to De Paul, Argentina’s head coach Scaloni has excelled in handling team affairs, saying, “Footballers are not all the same; each needs different guidance. Scaloni knows how to respond according to each player’s needs.”
However, De Paul believes he will not choose to become a coach after retiring, saying, “The thought of one day no longer playing scares me, but I won’t opt for a life as a coach because I think being a coach requires even more sacrifice than being a player.”