Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid midfielder suspended for Barcelona clash as appeal rejected
In a major blow for Atletico Madrid, key midfielder Marcos Llorente will miss the upcoming La Liga encounter against Barcelona due to suspension, reports MARCA.
The 28-year-old versatile midfielder is a regular fixture in the starting XI for Diego Simeone’s side when fit and available. He has played 28 times across all competitions this term, chipping in with three goals and assists each.
Llorente picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in La Liga in Atletico Madrid’s previous match against Almeria. It meant an automatic one-match ban for the Spanish internationa, which would rule him out against Barcelona.
Atletico Madrid, though, lodged an appeal to try and overturn the yellow card he received in the game against Almeria.
As per MARCA, the Rojiblancos claimed that there had been a ‘manifest error’ in the referee’s official match report which cited that Llorente was cautioned for ‘stopping a promising attack’.
However, the Appeals Committee ruled that there was not enough evidence to support these claims and that there was no error spotted. Hence, the appeal from Simeone’s side was rejected, resulting in Llorente being suspended for the trip to Catalonia this weekend.
While Llorente is certain to miss the game, Atletico Madrid are also sweating over the fitness of former Barcelona forward Memphis Depay, who is yet to rejoin team training and is still doing individual work as he continues to recover from an injury.
Los Rojiblancos are the most in-form team in La Liga heading into this weekend’s clash. Indeed, since losing 1-0 to Barcelona in January earlier this year, Simeone’s men have not faced a single defeat in La Liga, stringing together a 13-game unbeaten run, winning each of their last six.
It remains to be seen how Simeone manages to deal with the absence of a key member like Llorente against Barcelona.
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.
