In the world of soccer, things change so fast. Whether it’s a move to a new club or readjusting to new people and new surroundings, finding friends who stick around and who stay close is always a tough task for most players. It’s the same for Lionel Messi. Now, the Inter Miami star has revealed his 5 closest friends from the Argentina team. And quite surprisingly, he omitted his ‘unofficial bodyguard’ on the pitch, Rodrigo De Paul.

Rodrigo De Paul is usually Messi’s man at arms on the pitch for Argentina. De Paul almost always covers for Messi in-game with his tough tackling, physicality, and robust gameplay for La Albiceleste. This was even largely apparent at the World Cup. But in a recent interview, it wasn’t De Paul he named among his 5 closest teammates. Here’s what Messi had to say.

Messi names his closest Argentina teammates

Messi, who is injured at the moment, was rested for Argentina and Inter Miami due to a minor issue, spoke in a candid conversation with Miguel Granados on the YouTube channel Olga. The conversation was rather revelatory as he touched on several topics, including his best mates.

Speaking to Olga about his closest Argentina teammates, Messi said, “I shared a lot with the previous generation: Masche, Pocho, Kun. And from now on we have become close friends with many of them. Although it’s a very close-knit group, in the end in a group of 25 or 30 you have more affinity with one or the other,”

Further naming Angel Di Maria and Leandro Paredes as his best friends, the Inter Miami star added, “With Fideo (Di María) we have been together all our lives, we were together in Paris too. Then, the fact of sharing a team on a day-to-day basis brings you much closer. With Fide, Lea Paredes, and the family we share a lot.”

Both Paredes and Di Maria played alongside Messi for PSG and in the Argentina national setup, so it may be no surprise that Messi has named them as his closest friends. Currently, while he is injured due to muscle fatigue, Leo just moved into his new mansion in Miami, where the above interview took place as well.

Messi and family move into new home in Miami as muscle fatigue keeps him on the sidelines

The Argentine soccer icon and his family, finally bought a lavish sprawling mansion in Fort Lauderdale, after finding it difficult to buy a home earlier in August. The total cost of the Argentine maestro’s new home is reportedly around $11 million.

Apart from that, Messi’s new neighbors include the likes of veteran Hollywood actor Tom Cruise, golf legend Tiger Woods, and former Chicago Bulls All-Star Scottie Pippen.

Messi has been on the sidelines with his niggling muscle fatigue issue. He was taken off in the 37th minute against Toronto, to the disappointment of fans. However, whether he plays for Inter Miami in the US Open Cup final against Houston Dynamo remains to be seen. But it’s certain the club will look to get him fit as they aim to get their hands on their second piece of silverware this season.

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