Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid open to selling World Cup winner in January, Serie A giants keen
Rodrigo De Paul’s future at Atletico Madrid is highly uncertain. While the 28-year-old midfielder is a part of Diego Simeone’s plans, he has fallen out of favour with the Rojiblanco supporters and it was evident when the player was whistled during the team’s recent outing against Elche.
It’s not that De Paul isn’t wanted by Simeone and his coaching staff. In fact, the manager has stressed the player’s importance but the club management is keen on sanctioning a sale only if a good offer comes along in January.
In that regard, Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo has claimed that several Italian teams, including Juventus, Inter, Milan, and Roma are keen on bringing the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner back to Italy.
The aforementioned outlet says de Paul’s current situation at Atletico is seen as a stepping stone for those in Italy mostly because the Rojiblanco fans do not want him to continue at the club.
It is being relayed that the Argentine’s performances for his club have not been satisfying and even his off-the-field antics have triggered them big time.
One particular incident that every Atletico fan wants to point out is his escape to Miami to attend a musical gala when he had, in fact, taken permission to go away to deal with a family matter.
That was the final roll of the dice for the red-and-white fans. On top of everything, he also returned to club duties with a hamstring injury when a couple of days before he was celebrating becoming a world champion.
It must be remembered that De Paul moved to Atletico Madrid from Udinese for a fee reported to be around €35 million. So if any of the aforementioned suitors can at least match the figure, the team from the Spanish capital city might have no problem in parting ways.
Those interested in his acquisition truly understand that the 28-year-old’s relationship with the Atletico fans cannot be altered so a sale could be seen as a viable solution for everyone involved.
Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid to rival Inter, AC Milan and Roma for 23-year-old centre-forward
Atletico Madrid are set to enter the market for another striker in the summer transfer window even though they signed Memphis Depay in January from Barcelona.
And according to Italian journalist Giacomo Iacobellis, Atletico Madrid are interested in signing 23-year-old striker Mateo Retegui, who is also on the radars of AC Milan, Inter and AS Roma.
Retegui, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, also has Italian citizenship and has recently been called up by Roberto Mancini to the national team squad for the upcoming UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers.
The 23-year-old striker is currently plying his trade for Argentine outfit Tigre, on loan from Boca Juniors, having joined in February last year. He has made a solid impression so far in his time with his temporary club and has six goals in seven league appearances this season so far.
It has alerted Atletico Madrid, who are on the lookout for a new centre-forward. Depay was brought in earlier this year to replace Joao Felix, who left on loan and is likely to be sold permanently to Chelsea in the summer.
Having lost Matheus Cunha as well during the winter, Diego Simeone’s side do not have great depth up top, especially with Alvaro Morata not performing consistently. Hence, a new centre-forward could arrive at the Civitas Metropolitano, with Retegui emerging as an option.
Retegui’s loan deal runs until the end of this year, with Tigre having the option to make the transfer permanent. His contract with Boca Juniors expires at the end of December 2024.
Apart from Atletico, Italian clubs like AS Roma, AC Milan and Inter Milan are also keen on the 23-year-old and it remains to be seen if Retegui moves to Europe come summer.
