Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid enter talks to sign 28-year-old Real Betis midfielder
Quality defensive midfielders are hard to come by in the transfer market. Their rare availability makes them ever so valuable and inflates their price.
Diego Simeone’s philosophy of compact and defensive football and a pivot with incredible defensive prowess is key to their system.
Guido Rodriguez has been a consistent performer in the Spanish League since his arrival in 2020. He has established himself under Manuel Pellegrini and has been an undisputed starter for the Real Betis setup.
According to reports from TNT Sports, talks are underway between Atletico Madrid and Los Verdiblancos for the Argentine international.
Rodriguez has played 27 games for Real Betis in La Liga this season, scoring one goal and providing two assists.
Defensive, he has been astute. The 28-year-old produces one interception, three tackles and 1.5 clearances per game. Moreover, he wins six duels per ninety minutes.
The Argentine has been part of a double pivot for Betis alongside William Carvalho. With them on the field, Real Betis have only conceded 38 goals in 33 matches.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Simeone’s side would be prepared to shell out over €30 million for Rodriguez, an amount that could convince the administration of Real Betis.
Yet, there is a cloud over whether the Madrid based side would really allocate such a big share of their budget on one player.
Rodriguez’s contract at Real Betis runs until the summer of 2024. With two years left on his contract, the Seville based side are under no pressure to sell him.
Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid, Chelsea contact PSG midfielder’s agent with player set to leave
Atletico Madrid and Chelsea are among the clubs that have made contact with the agent of PSG midfielder Leandro Paredes, who is set to leave this summer.
This claim comes from journalist Martin Arevalo on ESPN, who states that apart from Atletico and Chelsea, an unnamed third club have also established contact with the Argentine international’s representative.
Paredes has been on PSG’s books since January 2019, when he arrived from Zenit St. Petersburg. For a large part of his time at the French capital outfit, the midfielder had been a regular starter in the side.
However, last summer saw Paredes get shipped out on loan to Juventus. He has played 33 times for the Bianconeri this season with a return of one goal and assist apiece.
The Serie A heavyweights, who were recently hit with a 10-point deduction, have the option to purchase him permanently. But, as per the report, his relationship with manager Massimiliano Allegri is not good and a return to PSG is on the cards.
And considering that he is not in the plans back at Parc des Princes either, a permanent departure away seems set in stone for Paredes.
As such, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, and an unnamed club have shown interest in acquiring his services by making contact with the 28-year-old World Cup winner’s agent.
With Koke entering the final phase of his career and Geoffrey Kondogbia expected to leave at the end of the season, the Rojiblancos could do with reinforcements in the centre of the park.
Paredes, who has plenty of experience at the highest level and is known for his aggressive mentality, can be a good fit into Diego Simeone’s setup at the Civitas Metropolitano.
But, with Chelsea also in the picture, things could get tricky for the Colchoneros. After all, Atleti are operating on tight finances and are looking for bargain and free transfer signings in the market with the likes of Marcus Thuram, Jordi Alba, and Raphael Guerreiro emerging as targets.
