Atletico Madrid News
Barcelona target was open to joining Atletico Madrid, €5m wage demands scuppered deal
Earlier this week, Atletico Madrid completed the signing of Sergio Reguilon on a season-long loan deal. The operation is a dry loan and there is no obligation for Los Rojiblancos to purchase the left-back at the end of the season.
After this move, Reguilon joins a short and elite list of players to have played for both Madrid-based giants. While there were no hurdles in the negotiations with the player, he was reportedly not Atletico’s first choice signing.
According to reports from MARCA, Diego Simeone’s side first contacted Marcos Alonso of Chelsea before Reguilon. Despite being closely linked with a move to Barcelona, the Spaniard was open to playing at Civitas Metropolitano.
However, the move fell apart because of his sky-high demands. Alonso asked for a three-year contract with a net salary of €5 million per season, a proposal considered unaffordable by Atletico.
As of deadline day morning, the left-back is still contracted with the London-based side. However, several reports say that his move to Barcelona is completely done and that the official announcement is just a matter of time.
Last season, the 31-year-old made 28 league appearances for Chelsea, scoring four goals and providing as many assists. Moreover, he averaged just under ten defensive actions per game.
Los Rojiblancos lost Renan Lodi to Nottingham Forest earlier this week, leaving Reinildo Mandava as the only natural left-back. In the absence of options, Simeone has been forced to deploy Saul Niguez in that position too.
With Reguilon’s arrival, that hole has been plugged. It remains to be seen if the manager counts on the new signing as a starter or an option off the bench.
Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid, Chelsea contact PSG midfielder’s agent with player set to leave
Atletico Madrid and Chelsea are among the clubs that have made contact with the agent of PSG midfielder Leandro Paredes, who is set to leave this summer.
This claim comes from journalist Martin Arevalo on ESPN, who states that apart from Atletico and Chelsea, an unnamed third club have also established contact with the Argentine international’s representative.
Paredes has been on PSG’s books since January 2019, when he arrived from Zenit St. Petersburg. For a large part of his time at the French capital outfit, the midfielder had been a regular starter in the side.
However, last summer saw Paredes get shipped out on loan to Juventus. He has played 33 times for the Bianconeri this season with a return of one goal and assist apiece.
The Serie A heavyweights, who were recently hit with a 10-point deduction, have the option to purchase him permanently. But, as per the report, his relationship with manager Massimiliano Allegri is not good and a return to PSG is on the cards.
And considering that he is not in the plans back at Parc des Princes either, a permanent departure away seems set in stone for Paredes.
As such, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, and an unnamed club have shown interest in acquiring his services by making contact with the 28-year-old World Cup winner’s agent.
With Koke entering the final phase of his career and Geoffrey Kondogbia expected to leave at the end of the season, the Rojiblancos could do with reinforcements in the centre of the park.
Paredes, who has plenty of experience at the highest level and is known for his aggressive mentality, can be a good fit into Diego Simeone’s setup at the Civitas Metropolitano.
But, with Chelsea also in the picture, things could get tricky for the Colchoneros. After all, Atleti are operating on tight finances and are looking for bargain and free transfer signings in the market with the likes of Marcus Thuram, Jordi Alba, and Raphael Guerreiro emerging as targets.
