Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid consider 29-year-old striker ‘untouchable’ amidst Serie A interest
Atletico Madrid are facing a dire shortage of strikers heading into the new season. Though they are very valuable players in Diego Simeone’s dynamics, neither Joao Felix nor Antoine Griezmann offers the killer instinct of a pure number nine.
Alvaro Morata could be the solution to Los Rojiblancos’ problems, but the Spanish striker is in a crisis of his own. Morata does not enjoy the best of relationships with the manager which has seen him pushed out of the team year after year.
However, David G Medina of MARCA reports the contrary. The Spanish journalist says that Atletico Madrid consider Morata ‘untouchable’ at the moment. However, Juventus are pushing hard to sign the player and a departure is not ruled out.
Morata spent the last two years of his career on loan in Turin. In that period, he scored 20 goals and provided 16 assists for the Bianconeri in Serie A and was a regular starter under Massimiliano Allegri.
Last season, the 29-year-old made 32 appearances for the Italian side and recorded 11 goals and nine assists.
When Juventus signed Dusan Vlahovic from Fiorentina in January, all doors seemed to close for Morata. Yet, he found a way to adapt his game and play alongside the Serbian.
The Bianconeri are now desperate to bring him back to Italy, and one would assume that Simeone’s decision to call Morata an untouchable player is just a means of milking money from the deal.
Yet, it is completely possible that the manager really has the forward in his plans for the season. Earlier this month, Morata spoke about his future and hinted that he would stay at Wanda Metropolitano.
“I’m lucky to have already worked with Simeone and his team and that will make things easier. I can’t wait to start preparing for this season together,” he had said (h/t GOAL).
So, it remains to be seen how this transfer story develops in the coming days as Juventus continue to push to re-sign Morata.
Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid midfielder on the derby against Real Madrid: “Very difficult to beat them”
Following a 1-1 draw in their Champions League opener against Lazio, Atletico Madrid will shift all their attention to La Liga, as they brace themselves for the derby against Real Madrid this weekend.
Heading into this game, Atleti midfielder Marcos Llorente spoke about Real Madrid’s quality and Atletico Madrid’s chances of squeezing all three points from this iconic derby.
Llorente on Madrid derby
“The sensations are good. The team is very good, the other day we played a great game despite ending up drawing. I really think that the team did a great job that must be maintained for this match,” Llorente said in an interview with Diario AS.
When asked whether or not Real Madrid being tagged as favourites could aid Atleti, the midfielder said, “Honestly, it neither motivates me nor demotivates me. We simply have to do what we work on during the week, what the coach asks of us.”
Llorente stressed the importance of the game, adding, “It is a great rival we have in front of us, they are having a very good start to the season and that motivates me and everyone to try to play a good game.”
“Real Madrid is a great club, they have great players and it is very difficult to beat them. I think we have competed, we have also achieved several draws, but in the end, either you go out one hundred percent and do things very, very well or it is difficult to beat them,” he added.
A former member of the Real Madrid youth academy, Llorente joined Atletico Madrid in 2019. Since then, he has racked up over 150 competitive appearances for Los Colchoneros.
Llorente, though, said he feels no sense of vindication when he performs well against his former team.
“No. In the end, it’s been many years since I left there and I’m at Atlético. Perhaps in the first years, those types of feelings and sensations can arise, but today they no longer do,” he said.
Llorente on Vinicius, Koke & Bellingham
The Atletico Madrid star went on to talk about other aspects of the game, including the fact that his team had one less player every time they faced Real Madrid last season.
“I have zero worries. These are things that are not in our remit, that escape our hands. We play football, the referees referee and those who have to decide decide,” he said.
Llorente, in fact, said that the return of Koke could be a real boost for Atleti. “It is always good that Koke is with us, both on the field and in the day-to-day life of the game,” he said.
“Beyond the grass. The support he gives, the advice he gives us, his experience. it is always important to have him and it is great news that he is already training with us,” he added.
Talking about the absence of Vinicius Junior and the form of Jude Bellingham, Llorente said, “Well, you have to be careful with everyone. All Real Madrid players are very good and can make a difference at any moment of the game. Bellingham is having a great start and we have to take that into account and be very focused.”
Finally, Marcos Llorente put out a message for all the Atletico Madrid fans, claiming their support ahead of this crucial encounter this weekend.
“It will be a full house as always. We don’t have to tell them anything, they know the importance of this match for Atlético, we know that they never fail, they are always supporting us and we count on them,” he said.
