Atletico Madrid felt painfully close to reaching the line against Barcelona and Real Madrid in all three games in which they participated last season. Yet their hope and dreams evaporated so quickly that Los Rojiblancos still feels that they are recovering from the blow. The question of Football Carlos Bucero and Diego Simeone this summer is how they give this team a push over the edge.
Last summer was an unusual for Los Rojiblancos and spent almost € 200 million to win four players, the most expensive Julian Alvarez was. Their new franchise player, the successor of Antoine Griezmann in many ways, Alvarez was an unbridled success. The arrivals of Robin Le Normand, Conor Gallagher and Alexander Sorloth were more nuanced matters.
None of the three were automatic starters all season, and those who probably performed the best, Sorloth, did this as the most effective replacement in Europe. If you were to attend a casino and vivo, Sorloth from the bank would be on Simeone's side, his happy charm. The Norwegian striker and Le Normand seem to play at least for prominent roles next season, but Simeone and Bucero have to make a number of decisions on some of their other more established names.
In the first place Rodrigo de Paul. The Argentina International was undoubtedly one of their best players this season, and his contributions in midfield were not replicated by anyone else in the team, nor does it seem capable of anyone. At the age of 31, however, the Paul will give everything to Argentina in the World Cup next season, and it will only be talking about his deal for a year. Atletico will have to make a decision about postponing a headache in replacing him, making a smart financial call or possibly giving him a new deal for the coming years, something where the accountants would frown.
Likewise there is Jose Maria Gimenez. At the age of 30, Gimenez has more minutes and injuries in his legs than most of his age, and few can call on how long he left at the highest level. He has a deal until 2028, but Atletico no longer has time to cash it in. When he is fit and fired, he remains the best defender of Atletico. Simeone often finds that trust that is the case, perhaps asks for problems.
Finally there is Antoine Griezmann. The top goalscorer in the history of Atletico, and until 2025, perhaps their best player. But there is little doubt that Griezmann has not succeeded in producing the quality he has in six months, nor has he been a tireless presence without the ball. Atletico has given him a new deal, but Simeone will have to call how dedicated he is to restore the best form of the 34-year-old, and how that affects their form and plans alongside Julian Alvarez.