Montero and Ricard have been doing the preseason with the Atlético first team. The two defenders of the rojiblanco club's quarry have worked and played under Simeone's orders. The first, the central defender, completed last season on loan at Besiktas. The experience helped him to add minutes and gain experience outside of Spain. Before he had already played on loan at Deportivo de la Coruña.
At 22, Montero waits for his situation to be clarified. His wish is to have the opportunity to play minutes again. At Atlético the roster is wide with Giménez, Savic, Felipe and Hermoso. In this way, the options are being evaluated to close a loan exit next week. In Spain there is interest, but on the table there are options from three countries as well: Germany, Italy and Turkey. Montero still has a contract with Atlético until 2024.
Something different is Ricard's situation. The full-back has also come to act with the Atlético first team this preseason. Against Wolfsburg he made a great game giving an assist and scoring a goal coming off the bench. The Catalan right-back ends his contract in 2022 and Atlético intends to renew him and decide. At the moment, that has not happened and his future could be outside the club.
No hypothesis is ruled out. Ricard played three games for Atlético's first team last season and sat on the bench in fifteen more games. Ricard had minutes in this preseason in the already mentioned clash against Wolfsburg, against Salzburg and was a starter in the initial against Numancia. Later he was neither against Cádiz nor against Feyenoord.