Argentina have entered a new era with some fresh faces surrounding Lionel Messi. Udinese star Rodrigo de Paul and Paris Saint-Germain’s Leandro Paredes have played an increasingly influential role for the national team over the past two years.
And De Paul has shed light on their relationship with captain Messi - revealing he has told the pair they are “hated” by their opponents.
De Paul, 26, says he responded to Messi’s statement by telling him they “have to do the fighting” because they cannot allow their superstar to get involved. "Messi tells Paredes and I that all our opponents hate us," De Paul told Club 94.7. "We responded by telling him that we have to do the fighting because we can't send him to do it.
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