As soon as the preseason started, Diego Pablo Simeone had a talk with Rodrigo Riquelme. In it he informed him that, in order to continue growing as a footballer, the best thing was to go out on loan again, but not before extending the contract so that Atlético de Madrid would ensure its continuity –until 2028–.
The 22-year-old from Madrid, one of the jewels of the mattress quarry, came from a sensational second round with Mirandés in Segunda along with another young mattress player like Sergio Camello, but the competition in the attacking positions was still fierce. Having few options to play, Roro studied the offers to make the leap to First Division. He chose Girona, a decision that at this point in the season can be considered a win-win for all parties: for the footballer and the two clubs, who meet today at the Civitas Metropolitano (4:15 p.m.) on matchday eight of League.
It will not be the first time that Riquelme steps on the lawn of the rojiblanco fiefdom. He played 12 minutes against Eibar in 2019. Now he will do it with another shield on his chest since the famous fear clause does not exist. “In preseason we saw that he was fine. He is a boy with enthusiasm, hunger, desire to continue growing. We spoke with him telling him the reality that he has today in the team, with many footballers in his position and that the growth he was having was going to stop. We are all getting it right, he is playing, growing, with a great coach, who plays with characteristics that suit him, he is our player who is in the rival that we are going to face tomorrow, "explained Simeone at a press conference.
In Girona the satisfaction is total with the footballer. Riquelme has more than returned Míchel's trust in him. Starting in all the games except against Celta due to injury, last weekend against Real Sociedad he made his debut as a scorer, a spectacular goal that slipped through the entire squad –he had just scored two more with the U-21–. In Montivili they hope that he will be the first of many. And it is that Girona needs to add after two defeats if it does not want to start getting into trouble.
“It is a special match. I was born and raised at Atleti. It will be a different match, but we are going to win it because we are in need of points”, pointed out the player this week. To do this, Míchel hopes to see the "best version of him" in a game in which he asks his team for defensive reliability and aggressiveness "with and without the ball". Riquelme's commitment –with many numbers to wear at rojiblanco next year– is guaranteed.
