Atlético needs to balance its economic balance to respect financial fair play and for this it needs to sell for 40 million euros, getting rid of players who do not excessively weaken Diego Simeone's squad. "There are 40 million that we have to sell because we have to fulfill a series of economic commitments and we are working on it. The market is difficult and the situation is not easy," says the club's president, Enrique Cerezo.
The top mattress president did not want to be much more precise: "I think all the clubs need to sell and we need to sell before we can sign. Let's see who is signed and who is bought."
The footballers with whom Atlético could make more cash right now and that Simeone does not consider essential are Thomas Lemar, Mario Hermoso and Álvaro Morata. The French midfielder, bought from Monaco for 70 million, ends his contract in 2023 and has not accepted the renewal offer, so he is a firm candidate to leave the club if a good offer arrives for him. He is not a player to dislike, but he has not been a regular starter in Simeone's lineups either.
A similar situation is that of Mario Hermoso, although in this case the contract of the former Real Madrid youth squad and former Espanyol footballer ends in 2024. Atlético paid 25 million for the center-back to the parakeet club and Hermoso has never started and His performance has been very irregular, although Cholo Simeone likes him for his versatility.
In the case of Álvaro Morata, the forward ends up at the Metropolitano this summer because Juventus did not want to exercise the purchase option. The 29-year-old footballer and starter in Luis Enrique's Spanish team is waiting for offers and it is not ruled out that he ends up playing for Atlético even though he has not finished convincing Simeone and he is not comfortable in the team where the owner is unknown.
What Enrique Cerezo did confirm is the signing of the Belgian Axel Witsel who comes with the letter of freedom after fulfilling his contract with Borussia Dortmund. "We already have the middle. It's practically done," he said. The mattress president also announced that "right now we are working on incorporating a right back." The decision is made because the club has not renewed the Croatian side Sime Vrsaljko, whose contract ends today June 30.
The rojiblanca entity also assumes that for the next campaign they will have Saúl Ñíguez, who returns after an unsuccessful loan with Chelsea. Another who also stays is Antoine Griezmann, in this case because the club has made effective the clause by which the loan from Barça could be extended for another year. For the 2023-24 campaign, Atlético will have to pay the azulgrana 40 million if Griezmann plays 50% of the minutes in which he is available.
There are four players for whom Atlético has received offers but they are not on the market: Oblak, José María Giménez, Correa and especially João Félix.
At 22 years old, João Félix was another starting from the match against Osasuna, at Sadar on February 19, where he scored a goal and provided an assist. This campaign he has played 24 LaLiga games, eight in the Champions League, two in the Copa del Rey and one in the Spanish Super Cup. He has scored ten goals (eight in LaLiga, one in the Champions League and one in the Cup) and provided six assists (four in the league championship, one in the Champions League and one in the Spanish Super Cup). He has already reached the category of essential for Simeone.
Apart from Saúl, the rest of those loaned by Atlético to Vitolo are looking for a transfer and UD Las Palmas is close to getting him). The rest could be subject to new transfers: Manu Sánchez (has been at Osasuna), Riquelme (played at Mirandés), Mollejo (at Tenerife), Ivo Grbic (at Lille), Marcos Paulo (at Famaliçao) and Nehuén Pérez (at Udinese).
