Argentina has a monumental task as the defending Copa America champions look to defend their crown this summer. While Lionel Messi will most likely be their x-factor, Lionel Scaloni will hope his top players step up their game during the competition. One name that will have to prove his place in the team is midfielder Rodrigo De Paul.

The Sarandi-born midfielder had a subpar campaign with Atletico Madrid this season as the player failed to replicate his performance from 2022. The midfielder made 48 appearances for the Rojiblancos across all competitions, finding just 10 goal contributions to his name. While there wasn’t much lacking with his performance on the field, his life outside the game could have taken a toll.

Just when it looked like everything was going right for Rodrigo De Paul, the midfielder announced his split with Argentine singer Tini Stoessel just a year after the couple started dating. De Paul and Stoessel were initially spotted together in 2022. The couple made headlines as the midfielder was coming off a 12-year relationship with Argentine model Camila Homs.

The Albiceleste star and Homs started dating back in 2010, with the couple having two children with each other named Francesca and Bautista. Following their split, Homs sued De Paul over child support, somewhat risking his place in Argentina’s World Cup squad. However, the Argentine Football Association stuck by the player and he repaid their faith by helping the team clinch the World Cup title in Qatar.

Rodrigo De Paul is a dual citizenship holder thanks to his parents

Rodrigo De Paul has an interesting family tree. His father, Carlos Mac Allister, is of Irish and Scottish descent while his mother Monica Ferrarotti hails from Italy giving the player dual citizenship. There isn’t much known about the player’s family. De Paul’s mother was the driving force behind the player starting as a soccer player, as she enrolled him in Sarandí Sports Club when he was just 3. The midfielder’s older brother Damian also used to play for the same club during his early days.

Rodrigo De Paul has been pretty close with his mother since childhood, with the player claiming his mother has been with him through every step of his career. Following his split with Camila Homs, De Paul’s mother helped the Argentine model raise the kids while the midfielder was plying his trade for Atletico Madrid in Spain.

The midfielder will once again hope for similar support from his mother as he looks to regain his form and help Lionel Messi retain the Copa America title.