Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid open talks to sign ex-Real Madrid defensive prospect – Romano
With Renan Lodi nearing a transfer to Premier League side Nottingham Forest, Atletico Madrid have already begun their search for a replacement for the Brazilian left-back.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Atletico Madrid are already in talks with Tottenham Hotspur over the potential signing of Sergio Reguilon.
The former Real Madrid prospect has fallen out of favour at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium under Antonio Conte and is primed to leave the club before the transfer window closes.
Plenty of clubs have taken an interest in the Spaniard, who is ‘more than appreciated’ at Atletico Madrid. With the situation surrounding Lodi evolving in the last few hours, negotiations for Reguilon could pick up pace.
A product of the Real Madrid youth academy, the 25-year-old made only 22 senior appearances for Atleti’s arch-rivals. Instead, Reguilon’s shot at fame came during the 2019/20 campaign when he was on loan at Sevilla, helping them win the UEFA Europa League.
Soon after that, a move to Tottenham Hotspur materialised, with Real Madrid including a €40 million buyback option which will expire at the end of this transfer window. However, they have not shown any inclination to trigger that clause, leaving the field clear for Atletico.
Lodi has been at the club for three years and his departure will leave a void at the Civitas Metropolitano, even though Reinildo Mandava is available at Diego Simeone’s disposal.
Signing a player like Reguilon, who is young but has a good degree of experience and exposure at the top level can be a good move.
Recent reports had indicated that Atleti had lodged a request to sign him on loan. Romano’s update does not specify whether the Colchoneros are trying to get him on a temporary deal or permanently, but talks are already underway and Reguilon could soon return to the Spanish capital.
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.
