One of the images of Atlético’s morning training session happened at the end of it. Simeone sat in the center of the pitch to linger with Cunha, while the rest of his teammates left the pitch. Technician and forward, both seated, spoke at length for more than twenty minutes. Cholo will want to keep the Brazilian striker full for the second part of the season.
Cunha has not had many minutes at Atlético, although he has shown his worth every time he has played. Luis Suárez is suspended and will not be able to play this next Sunday against Villarreal, a match in which Cunha will start. At 22, he was one of the signings this season and signed for the Madrid club until 2026.
With Atlético, he has played fifteen LaLiga games and three in the Champions League. He has scored three goals (Levante, Cádiz and Mallorca) and has given an assist, against Cádiz. Every time he came out, he gave the feeling of bringing aggressiveness to the rojiblanca forward. The Argentine coach only used him twice as a starter, against Mallorca and Real Madrid and so far he has entered as a revulsive of the team. Atlético will have a month of January in which they will play the League, the King’s Cup and the Spanish Super Cup, so Simeone must have all his players plugged in to the maximum.
For Villarreal, Atlético loses Luis Suárez, suspended, although he recovers Griezmann. João Félix still does not train after testing positive and the coach also has Correa, who made a double against Rayo Vallecano. Correa and Cunha could be the points against Villarreal. Before Atlético will play against Rayo Majadahonda. Luis Suárez seems to start because he cannot play on Sunday.