Diego Simeone has got the band back together.
Atletico Madrid‘s summer tournament contingent have finally returned and that’s not a moment too soon for El Cholo, who was growing impatient at fielding an unrecognisable team during pre-season.
There’s clearly a lot of hard work ahead to get this group ready to defend their LaLiga Santander crown, but the likes of Luis Suarez, Kieran Trippier and Renan Lodi are giving the squad a familiar feel and encouraging fans that they can once again challenge for the upcoming season’s biggest trophies.
However, Simeone is known to still want a cherry on this particular cake.
The position he is targeting is an attacker, and the ideal forward’s name is Antoine Griezmann.
The Frenchman and Atleti were a perfect match for the five years the now 30-year-old spent at the club between 2014 and 2019.
His 94 goals in 180 competitive appearances tells the story of his effectiveness, and Simeone wants him back.
If El Cholo doesn’t land his man, it won’t be for a lack of patience.
Barcelona‘s financial outlook means they need to balance their books, but Simeone does not want to pay over the odds – and he knows that if Griezmann does leave the Camp Nou, he will surely have Los Rojiblancos at the top of his mind, given that was where he found the best form of his career.
Atleti aren’t immune to the economic pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic either though, and El Cholo knows that headroom must be made for Griezmann via the sale of Saul Niguez.
But with no offers for the Spaniard forthcoming, progress is being held up.
Herrera now on holiday
There is one other player yet to join the Atleti squad – Hector Herrera.
The midfielder played in the final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup final on Sunday, with his Mexico side going down 1-0 to the USA.
Herrera will now start his holiday, which will be shorter than usual so as to not miss too much of the league campaign.
