Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid plotting January swoop for Premier League centre-back
Atletico Madrid are in the market for defensive reinforcements in the upcoming January transfer window, as part of Diego Simeone’s plans to add more quality to the team.
Especially in the central defensive area, the club lack proper quality and assurance. This is mainly because there are uncertainty looming over the future of Mario Hermoso and Felipe whereas Stefan Savic has struggled with injuries.
With that in mind, Atleti are keen on signing another centre-back in January, with Leicester City defender Caglar Soyuncu emerging as one of the top options.
This has been reported by Diario AS who suggest that Los Rojiblancos are attempting a repeat of ‘operation Reinildo’, who was available for a free transfer at the end of last season, but the club opted to pay a minimal fee to snap him in January.
Reinildo’s investment paid off for Atletico Madrid as the Mozambican has emerged as one of the most consistent performers in the team. The club are now looking to replicate the process for Soyuncu, whose current contract at Leicester City expires at the end of the season.
Formerly of Stuttgart, Soyuncu is a strong centre-back, with a sharp defensive nous and physicality that should make him an ideal fit for Simeone’s style of play. He has no shortage of experience either, having featured in 125 competitive matches for Leicester City.
With his current contract expiring in 2023, Soyuncu could be available for a cut-price deal in January, thus making him an excellent target for Atletico Madrid.
From a sporting perspective, the Turkish international could prove to become an ideal replacement for Felipe, who has fallen out of favour at Atleti and is all set to leave the club in the upcoming January transfer window.
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.
