Atletico Madrid News
Official: Tchouameni, Griezmann start for France vs Argentina | World Cup final
With the FIFA World Cup 2022 final between Argentina and France set to kick off in under two hours, Les Bleus manager Didier Deschamps has released the starting XI that will take the field at the Lusail Stadium.
As expected, there are two changes to the team that started in the semi-final victory over Morocco earlier this week. The first alteration comes in defence where Dayot Upamecano replaces Ibrahima Konate after recovering from an illness.
Adrien Rabiot also makes his way back into the starting XI, at the expense of Youssouf Fofana. The Juventus ace partners Real Madrid mainstay Aurelien Tchouameni in the midfield, with the latter shrugging off a hip issue to make himself available for selection.
Atletico Madrid superstar Antoine Griezmann, who has been one of the best performers at the World Cup, occupies the third slot in the centre of the park for the reigning champions.
Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud form the attacking line for France against Argentina, with the latter starting despite there being doubts about his fitness.
Ex-Real Madrid ace Raphael Varane partners Upamecano at the heart of the defence while Jules Kounde occupies the right-back position. Former Atletico and Real Madrid left-back Theo Hernandez completes the backline for France. Captain Hugo Lloris mans the goal.
Voici le onze de Didier Deschamps pour cette finale face à l'Argentine. ⚔️🇫🇷
— BeFootball (@_BeFootball) December 18, 2022
Vos avis ? 👀 #ARGFRA pic.twitter.com/iyvgbNSOdS
Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid monitoring teenage striker with €40 million release clause – Romano
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Atletico Madrid are among the clubs monitoring the progress of UD Almeria striker Marciano Sanca.
The 19-year-old Guinea-Bissau forward joined Almeria from Portuguese outfit Leixoes in January last year, linking up with the club’s B team.
Marciano has made three league appearances Almeria’s reserve team and has not scored a goal yet. The teenager has been training with the first-team setup regularly and Romano claims that he is close to making his debut in La Liga.
While he might not have made a splash at the senior level yet, Marciano seems to be already gathering admirers with Atletico Madrid, Villarreal and Brighton & Hove Albion said to be tracking the youngster.
Los Rojiblancos are set to enter the market for a new centre-forward as Joao Felix is expected to be sold permanently while Alvaro Morata’s future is also not entirely certain.
So even though Diego Simeone has Memphis Depay, Angel Correa, and Morata at his disposal, Atletico Madrid will dive into the market for a new striker with there being links to Mateo Retegui of Boca Juniors, currently on loan at Tigre.
Now, Marciano has also emerged as a potential target or Atletico Madrid, although signing him will not be easy in the summer.
Even though the 19-year-old’s contract expires in 2024, he is bound by a release clause worth €40 million and Almeria intend to keep him at the club beyond this season.
So, the La Liga club might hold out for the entire release clause amount in order to stave off potential suitors like Atletico Madrid, who are not in a position to make such an investment on an unproven youngster.
