Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid lining up move for 29-year-old La Liga striker in January
According to MARCA, Atletico Madrid have identified Real Betis striker Borja Iglesias as a transfer target for the upcoming January window. However, the signing of the 29-year-old centre-forward will only be feasible if Joao Felix leaves the club.
Atletico are in for a revamp of their attacking unit. Matheus Cunha has already left the club to join Wolves on a loan deal with an option to buy. And Felix could also be on his way out next month, amid interest from Manchester United and Arsenal.
It will open up a void in the attacking department at the Civitas Metropolitano and Atletico Madrid have narrowed in on Borja Iglesias as their desired target to fill that gap.
The 29-year-old has been in good form for Real Betis this season, having scored eight goals and set up two more in 13 La Liga matches. Capped one time by the Spanish national team, the striker was unfortunate to miss out on a call-up to the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone is said to be an admirer of Iglesias, who is a pure No. 9. And the Rojiblancos have already made contact with the player’s entourage to gauge their interest in a possible move in January.
Iglesias is being sought to add competition to Alvaro Morata, who is now the only natural centre-forward at Simeone’s disposal following Cunha’s departure.
However, negotiating with Real Betis could be an issue. The striker is contracted with the Verdiblancos until 2026 and they might look to recoup most of the €28 million they invested in him in 2019.
Having established contact with Iglesias’ entourage, the next step for Atletico Madrid is to make a formal approach to Betis. However, for the move to materialise, they must find a way to offload Felix first.
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.
