The end of the market is August 31 and Andrea Berta, Atlético's sports director, has duties. Matheus Cunha, Cholo's desired '9' may not be the club's last signing this summer. A summer in which, thanks to the capital increase approved by the Atletico General Meeting of shareholders last June, has had, for now, the two most expensive signings in the constrained Spanish market, those of Rodrigo de Paul (35 million to Udinese) and Mathues Cunha (30, to Hertha in Berlin). But they may not be the only ones. The departure of Saúl, who is still determined to leave Atlético and who opens the way for the transfer, Morata formula to Juve, as an escape door to the Premier (Chelsea is, now, the most advanced club although United also continues lurking), almost pushes the rojiblanco club to do another incorporation under the rule of 'The three B', well, nice, cheap, for the center of the field. Saúl occupies many places with his versatility and Simeone already lost Vitolo this summer (Marcos Paulo, who became his replacement, did not convince the coach and will be on loan this season at Famalicao). Solving Saúl, however, is not the first of Berta's duties..
Extra-community
The first is called extra-community and his last name is Arias. Because Atlético has 'overbooking' and, before entering, they need to leave. Enter Cunha, his last signing, the '9' desired by Cholo to give Suarez a break. It is extra-community as well. Like Lodi, like Felipe, both compatriots from '9', both untouchable, like the Colombian right-back. Either he leaves or Cunha cannot be registered. At the moment, only one interest, that of Granada. A serious injury to his team in his loan last season, as soon as he arrived at Leverkusen, kept him almost blank. Atlético signed him in 2018, for five seasons, from PSV for 15 million.
Saul
Hot potato. Summer soap opera. He wants to leave, he feels that at Atlético he can no longer, or they do not let him, grow. His versatility has become his prison. Cholo's movement to the left back does not like, he does not feel comfortable, he prefers to move close to the area, but that is the place where he enters Atlético right now (he has started, with performance, in the first two league games) . What seemed off was reactivated two days ago. With the transfer sign hanging from his chest since the market opened, no one has come looking for him. The wishes of the Premier for years, United especially, were extinguished by the pandemic, its clause scared (150 million). Atleti said they were willing to let him go for a third, 50 million, a reasonable price for his quality and performance. But neither. Now the formula is the one that opened the door for Morata to Juve. A loan with the club that he signed taking over part of his salary (around 8 million, one of the highest in the rojiblanco team). There is interest yes. But there are still no steps forward, concrete steps. You have five days before that last ajar door closes.
Another signing?
Saúl's departure, of course, would come with another obligation of the hand: the squad is lame. Simeone needs another reinforcement added. And the tick-tock hangs over his head. Good, pretty, cheap and, if possible, assigned. Maybe it's Pablo Sarabia, from PSG. Maybe Bernardo Silva. Of all, it is the most secret operation. And also more vital. The hole that Saúl would leave is very large.
Output operation
Because beyond the non-EU, Berta has to sweep in the Cholo team. Many footballers do not count. Many who are still there. Vitolo left, okay, on loan to Getafe, Marcos Paulo too, to Famalicao. In Udine is Nehuén, but … And Saponjic? That he returned from the cession of Cádiz is read in the press but not in Cholo's plans. He played a bit against Numancia, to take the picture with the new shirt, and that's it. It is transparent, it does not exist. Also footballers like Montero, Riquelme or Ricard, quarry players to whom to give minutes, a higher projection than they can find in the subsidiary, descended to fifth division. After the summer and the preseason without men, only three enter Cholo's lists, Camello, Giuliano and Serrano. And they may also come out. Berta's phone is on fire.