Atletico Madrid News
Official: Atletico Madrid lineup to face Elche
After a somewhat topsy-turvy first half of the season, Atletico Madrid are back in action tonight to kick off life after the 2022 World Cup. They take on Elche at the Wanda Metropolitano, featuring a very interesting starting lineup.
Jan Oblak starts in goal with the captain’s armband, guarded by the back-three of Mario Hermoso, Jose Maria Gimenez, and Stefan Savic. Marcos Llorente and Yannick Carrasco form the wing-back duo, starting on the right and left, respectively.
Diego Simeone has taken a leaf out of Didier Deschamps book for his midfield, deploying Antoine Griezmann as a no. 8 in the trident. Geoffrey Kondogbia mans the anchor role, while Barrios rounds off the centre of the park as the other central midfielder.
Given the lack of options, Joao Felix has been given the nod to start this game despite his differences with Cholo. He will be playing off Alvaro Morata in attack.
Official Atletico XI:
Felix · Morata
Carrasco · Barrios · Kondogbia · Griezmann · Llorente
Hermoso · Gimenez · Savic
Oblak
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.
