In this FRONTPAGE story, football star Rodrigo De Paul discusses his personal style and career while styled in the Moncler and Jony Ive’s LoveFrom collection.
Argentine football superstar Rodrigo De Paul has just begun another year as a central cog for the dominating force that is Atlético Madrid. As a World Cup winner, De Paul is no stranger to lofty expectations, but each year as a member of LaLiga brings the opportunity to re-assert himself as one of the best midfielders in the world. Returning to Madrid each year also brings De Paul plenty of delight, as his adopted hometown has quickly become a place he considers a sanctuary. Each season — this one began in August, and his team currently sits in second place — is a new opportunity to continue his quest in becoming the best footballer, and human, he can be.
“Every time we start a new season we try to bring fresh energy, resetting our expectations for what’s to come,” De Paul tells us. “In general, I always take good care of myself, even when I know I’m getting older and we keep playing more and more games, I try to learn and adapt myself to new things that can help me improve… That said, I will keep in mind the same fundamentals that have been helping me have the career I have had so far.”
With football being a year-round commitment for De Paul, he’s found ways to remove himself from the daily stressors of the game to which he’s dedicated most of his life. As he’s gotten older (he’s now 30) and more experienced regarding the demands of the sport, he’s learned to step away when he needs a breather. “The reality is that for many many years of my life, football has been absolutely everything. That said, in the past few years I started to find a few things that help me to move away from the daily pressure of football,” he explains. “Boxing is one of those. I love to write, and luckily, I’m starting with a few projects that I’m very passionate about.”
And then there’s his link with Moncler, whose recent collection of shell jackets was designed in collaboration with LoveFrom, the creative collective founded by Apple alum Jony Ive.
The collection, which marks Ive's first-ever outerwear designs, highlights the designer’s legendary eye. Seams are all but impossible to find on these jackets, vests, and ponchos that were made from a recycled, yarn-dyed, and loom-woven nylon developed exclusively for LoveFrom. The collection’s defining feature, though, is its “Duo” button, made of four metals and a magnet. The design allows the garments to smoothly slide onto each other.
The chance to jump into the world of fashion was alluring, but De Paul was thoughtful in his decision to work with Moncler and LoveFrom. “I really do love fashion, but not just buying stuff. This is a world I feel authentically attracted to,” he says. “Many of my current looks are a direct consequence of my mood, the weather, or even for the specific moment I'm going through. I’m always looking for references…I do care about my personal style.”
When he’s not pursuing extracurriculars like modeling, Rodrigo is happiest in the locker room, where he and his teammates can decompress without the scrutiny of fans who cheer and groan their every success and missed opportunity. “We are together all the time, from Monday to Monday…The changing room [is] where I find a very special energy. [It’s where we] share great moments of happiness and others moments [that are] not so good but at the end, that is our space,” he explains.
Outside of the locker room, De Paul is conscious of how he’s perceived. As one of football’s most talked-about superstars, his every move is analyzed, and he has sparked controversy in the past (particularly for his now-infamous “vacation” comments). De Paul has learned to put a premium on the way he behaves and carries himself. “If I truly want something, I will do everything within myself to achieve it,” he says. “If not, I will take that journey as learning for the future.”
