Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid scout 17-year-old Brazilian attacking prodigy
It goes without saying that Brazil is a hotbed of young talents, hence it comes as no surprise that many Spanish teams send their scouts to unearth the hidden gems. As it turns out, the latest team to enter the fray is Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid.
According to AS, the representatives of the Rojiblanco team were present at the Arena da Baixada in Curitiba this week to make a report on a certain Vitor Roque, who plays for Athletico Paranaense.
The 17-year-old scored a goal in a 3-0 win against Botafogo to finish the league campaign with five goals to this name. Interestingly enough, Atletico weren’t the only team who had sent their scouts, with AS reporting that representatives from Benfica, Barcelona and Real Madrid were also present at the venue.
Roque has been one of the standout performers at the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A. He is described by his manager, Luiz Felipe Scolari, as someone who “is a precocious talent” and “one of the greatest Brazilian talents due to his quality and his desire to succeed.”
At just 17 years of age, Roque has shown immense potential as he has good control over his movements and shots. “I’m right-footed, but I scored almost all my goals with my left or my head. On the field I consider myself a great fighter,” he defines himself.
As mentioned above, Atletico are not the only team keeping an eye on the teenager and the presence of Barcelona could hinder their chances big time.
As reported before that any team that wants to acquire his services has been told to shell out anywhere between €35-40 million. On top of everything, given that he will only turn 18 in February next year, the teams can only strike an early agreement for now and then wait to release the official papers.
There is no doubt that Atletico Madrid are bracing themselves for a busy summer ahead as they look to address the future of some of their star players. One of them is Saul Niguez, who has fallen out of favour under Diego Simeone and could leave the club.
A recent report from Mundo Deportivo has offered an update on the future of the Spaniard, suggesting that the player has once again become a market attraction.
The versatile star was on loan at Chelsea last season, but his spell at Stamford Bridge was far from ideal, as he featured in less than 500 minutes of league football. He returned to Atletico Madrid in the summer, and even though he wanted to leave the club, a move did not materialise.
Saul was even linked with a move away from Atleti in January. But Valencia, who were interested in him at the time, could not afford the deal, particularly because of the player’s salary and transfer fees.
The report from Mundo Deportivo states that Valencia have retained their interest in the player. But in addition to Los Che, Saul has been targeted by two other Spanish teams in the form of Rayo Vallecano and Sevilla.
Rayo have expressed the desire to sign Saul in the coming season. But they are likely to face economic difficulties in funding a move for the midfielder. The same can be said for Sevilla.
Saul’s current contract at Atletico Madrid expires in 2026, a deal that was agreed when the player was at his peak. But the long contract has now come back to haunt Atleti, as they desperately look to get rid of the Spanish international.
With his suitors likely to face financial trouble in weighing up a move, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for Saul in the coming summer.
Saul is not the only Atletico Madrid player facing an uncertain future, with Axel Witsel’s father also hinting at a possible exit recently.
