Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid plotting €23 million bid to sign Brazilian midfielder from Premier League club
Atletico Madrid’s start to the new season has been underwhelming. The Spanish side began their campaign with a dominant win over Getafe but immediately fell prey to Villarreal in the next matchday. Their third game too featured a win over Valencia that was far from convincing.
The squad clearly still has a few holes that remain to be filled. Heading into the final stretch of the transfer window, the attention turns to these voids.
According to reports from Telegraph, Atletico Madrid are trying to sign Douglas Luiz and are preparing an opening bid of £20 million (€23 million). However, Aston Villa are expected to reject the offer as they value the player at a much higher price.
The Brazilian would add an element of depth to Atletico’s defensive midfield which currently has limited options in Axel Witsel and Geoffrey Kondogbia.
Last season, the 24-year-old made 34 league appearances for the Premier League club, scoring two goals and providing three assists. He also averaged just under 10 defensive actions per game.
Moreover, Luiz has nine caps for his national team – where he competes for a place alongside the likes of Casemiro, Fabinho and Fred. This is a testament to his quality as a defensive midfielder.
This season, however, Luiz has struggled to get into the starting lineup under Steven Gerrard. Moreover, Villa’s poor start to the season could open the doors for his potential exit.
Los Rojiblancos will have to work hard to seal the deal in the coming hours. With the current €23 million bid likely to be deemed insufficient, it remains to be seen if the club prepare a follow-up offer.
Atletico Madrid News
UEFA open investigation against multiple Real Madrid players over celebration vs Atletico
More than two weeks after Real Madrid’s controversial win over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League Round of 16, UEFA has sent quite the shockwave to the defending European champions.
In a recent statement, UEFA has announced they have started an open investigation against a series of Real Madrid players for the way they celebrated after winning against Atletico Madrid, about two weeks back.
What is the investigation about?
As reported by MARCA, the European governing body is specifically looking into the actions of Antonio Rudiger, Kylian Mbappe, Dani Ceballos, and Vinicius Jr.
The controversy stems from Real Madrid’s celebrations after knocking out city rivals Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16.
The celebrations took place near the section of the stadium occupied by Real Madrid supporters, but some actions by the players have drawn scrutiny.
“A UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector has been appointed to investigate allegations of indecent conduct by Real Madrid CF players (Antonio Rudiger, Kylian Mbappe, Daniel Ceballos Fernandez and Vinicius Junior) during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 match between Club Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid on 12 March 2025,” UEFA said in an official statement.
Rudiger is being investigated for a gesture in which he placed his hand around his neck, while Mbappe reportedly made an inappropriate gesture by touching his genitals.
Vinicius, on the other hand, was involved in heated interactions with Atletico fans both before and after the match, while Ceballos was seen enthusiastically joining the celebrations.
The celebrations from Real Madrid players drew hostility from Atletico Madrid fans for obvious reasons, with the opposition fans resorting to throwing bottles on the pitch.
Jude Bellingham was even among the ones hit by these throwing objects from Atleti fans while Vinicius pointed to the Real Madrid crest on his shirt, which might have played a role in further fuming tension.
Rodrygo, on the other hand, responded to the hostility from Atleti fans by dancing inside the pitch.
UEFA has appointed an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector to review the incidents, although it is very much likely that Real Madrid would appeal against any sanctions placed on the event of any breach.
