Atletico Madrid has been busy in recent weeks, after he has agreed deals for three players to become a member of Diego Simeone's team. Alex Baena and Johnny Cardoso draw from Villarreal and Real Betis respectively, while Matteo Ruggeri from Atalanta will arrive to be the new starting links of the club.
A deal for Ruggeri was quickly completed and he was not the first links that Atleti chased. Theo Hernandez was sought, but eventually thrown away, while Liverpool and Scotland player Andy Robertson was also a serious candidate to make the switch to the Riyadhair Metropolitano.
In the end, Robertson was also excluded. And according to enchanted side, Fabrizio Romano has unveiled why Atleti did not complete a deal for the 31-year-old.
“There was a possibility, a real opportunity, for Andy Robertson to go to Atletico Madrid, but then Liverpool did not want the player to leave for a free transfer. He never gave a last green light to Atletico, to respect Liverpool.”
Atleti are planning to spend great this summer, with a movement planned for Cristian Romero next to the one for Baena and Cardoso. As such, they wanted to save money when pursuing a new left back, which is why Liverpool did not want to pay any transfer costs.
Robertson would have been an excellent market opportunity if he had been available at a free transfer, but it is understandable that Liverpool did not want him to go without earning some money.
It doesn't matter much in the big schedule of things, and Atleti hopes to complete the arrival of Ruggeri when the summer transfer window is opened on Tuesday. His signing is exciting for Los Colchoneros, just like the approaching arrivals of Baena and Cardoso.