Atlético immerses itself in the South American market

Atlético already has its first official signing for the 2021-22 season: Marcos Paulo. The rojiblanco club closed its incorporation in January, but until yesterday still he had not made his public announcement. A footballer who arrives free, after terminate your contract with Fluminense, and that at 20 years of age he concentrates talent, dribbling, vision of the game and goal, something that makes him a great promise.

Marcos Paulo, international with Portugal Sub-19 (does not occupy an extra-community position), will join the preseason and the departure of Vitolo to Getafe could open the doors to have continuity in Simeone's squad, although several clubs have already requested his assignment. While Atlético has hedged the signing of Rodrigo de Paul, focused on the Copa América with Argentina and where only the official announcement is missing, from the club they have also set their eyes on striker Rodrigo Muniz, who at 20 years old plays for Flamengo. If he followed in the footsteps of Marcos Paulo, he would become the second footballer to join this season from the Brazilian market.

And it is that Atlético is increasingly attentive to the footballers who excel in South American football. Players like Lautaro Martínez or Bruno Guimarães escaped through fringes, but in recent years the stakes have been multiplied by the young promises of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay or Colombia. Since the arrival of Simeone to the rojiblanco bench, there are three players who came from South American football to gain a place directly in the first team and end up being protagonists: Giménez, Correa and Lodi. A few months before the technician signed Joao Miranda, a free agent like Marcos Paulo, before becoming a historic center-back at Atlético.

In the case of Giménez, his incorporation in the summer of 2013 from Danubio ended in a glorious year for Atlético, with the League title and the dispute of the Champions League final, although the Uruguayan hardly participated in a league match. This last course would repeat the feat in the domestic competition already as a locker room heavyweight. Strap for his part signed in the summer of 2014 from San Lorenzo as a great bet for the attack. But a tumor was detected in his heart that prevented him from playing throughout the first year. He would come back strong in the second, and this last season he has been fundamental in the league title, with a great end to the course. Lodi has only been at the club for two seasons, the first with more opportunities from the eleven and the second having to adapt to a defense with three centrals that left him with little gap in the left lane, and more with Carrasco's high level. But his great Copa América can give him strength for the next course.

Kranevitter, Borré, Nehuén …

In addition to the three mentioned, Atlético has been adding to its squad players from South America with better and worse luck, in some cases without making their debut in an official match. From Argentina, Kranevitter would sign from River for 8 million, Axel Werner from Atlético Rafaela (0.8) and Nehuén Pérez from Argentinos Junior (2.5 million). The first two came to debut as rojiblanco, but they did not have continuity. The central will be in the Olympic Games and Simeone will have to decide if he is prepared to reinforce the mattress squad this season. In addition to Giménez, Emiliano Velázquez joined the rojiblancas from Danubio (one million), although it would not have much the same impact and would not debut. This course has achieved promotion to First with Rayo Vallecano.

A very young man joined from Brazil Caio Henrique, then a midfielder. After playing for Atleti B and making his debut under the command of Simeone, he specialized in the left-back position and in his assignments to Brazil a world grew. The mattress club recovered him a year ago, but to transfer him to Monaco, where it has been one of the most outstanding pieces. And from Colombia, Santos Borré was signed, at that time Deportivo Cali striker and that, after a great performance in River, has just joined Eintracht. Also in the American continent, although in this case in North America, from Mexico a Raúl Jiménez was signed that he failed to give the expected performance in his only rojiblanco season, although later he would grow at Wolverhampton.

Atlético has globalized its market and has set its eyes on the search for new stars in South America. Without large investments, add low-risk bets that can pay off. Marcos Paulo will have the opportunity to prove his worth to Simeone in the preseason and he will decide if he continues in the first squad or if it is a better option to find him a loan so that he curtails. A future signing, who signs for the next five seasons and where his club had great expectations in his evolution.