Atlético has lived through a difficult year, marked by the transition of saying goodbye to eight players, many of them key (Griezmann, Godín, Juanfran, Filipe, Lucas and Rodrigo) and the arrival of the same number of new faces last summer, joined by Carrasco's return to the club in January.
Despite the disappointment in the Champions League, where Leipzig brought Atlético off the road to the semi-finals When all the dreams were put in the competition, the performance of the signings has been, in general lines, satisfactory. Between all of them they have accumulated 17,351 minutes, they contributed 19 of the team's 68 goals and added 20 assists. Footballers like Lodi, Felipe and Carrasco have offered great performance, Llorente has had tremendous growth since the break and João Felix has shown flashes of great quality. Trippier have gone from more to less, while Herrera and Hermoso have not managed to have continuity and Saponjic it has been a testimonial incorporation. This has been the performance of the rojiblancos signings:
Lodi: 3,317 minutes, one goal and three assists
The Brazilian has been a success. With remarkable growth, he has finished the course as the fourth most valuable left back in the world. Without a natural substitute on the roster, the red he saw on his official debut was a mirage. Lodi has shown great talent in attack, steadily climbing the band, with quality in the center, danger in his shots and a great ability to combine and control the ball. But his great progression has been in defense. With Cholo on top, he has left Notable performances against Liverpool and at the Camp Nou against Barcelona. At 22 he has met all expectations and with his 3,317 minutes has been the signing that has played the most and the fifth player in the squad with the most participation, only surpassed by Oblak (4,446), Saúl (4,246), Thomas (3,571) and Koke (3,526), Simeone's hard core. He made his debut as a scorer against Granada and aims to be the side of Atlético and the Brazilian team for the next decade.
Felipe: 3,090 minutes and two goals
Compatriot of Lodi, his signing was very different, but the performance has also been fully satisfactory. In the case of Felipe, his arrival came as a veteran defender to compete for a position with three other top-level center-backs, starting the season as the fourth player in the position. However, when the opportunity came, he could not make better use of it. The injuries of Giménez and Savic opened the doors to the eleven and until the break he probably became the player with the highest performance of Atlético. Unbeatable in hand-to-hand, splendid at the top and giving great security, Felipe has been a great sensation after there was some criticism for incorporating a player who was already in his thirties. His only problem is that it is difficult for him to get into shape, which led him to start the season still a point below and come back from the break slower than his teammates, so he has been seen little.
Trippier: 2,730 minutes and five assists
The pubalgia operation which he underwent in February has marked Trippier's season. The Englishman had started the course fully adapted, showing his great ability in the center already in his debut against Getafe, putting a golden ball for Morata and performing at a high level both in defense and attack. Excellent in his centers from set pieces, Trippier's level has fallen in the last months of competition, ending with the position much more compromised with respect to Arias. In those last appearances he has been slower and with more difficulties behind. Despite this, he finished the course as the ninth player with the most minutes and contributing five assists.
João Félix: 2,483 minutes, 9 goals and three assists
The Portuguese started the course marveling at its quality and finished it in the same way, but in between he experienced constant ups and downs. Injuries and alternations between the eleven and the bench have marked the first season of the most expensive signing in the club's history. Despite the difficulties, nine goals scored They have led him to close the course as the team's second top scorer only behind Morata. At 20 years old, João Félix's second season at Atlético is expected to be his explosion. Definitely already in his ideal position as second striker, with more presence in the final meters and exploiting his quality and vision of the game. Against Leipzig he showed that by character it will not be, since he was able to throw the team on his back and take responsibility for taking the penalty. The Golden Boy still has several steps to take forward, he has time.
Llorente: 1,718 minutes, five goals and five assists
Anfield has changed his life. The euphoria over his double to eliminate Liverpool could collapse during the break, but it was the opposite. Llorente returned finer than anyone and Simeone surprised everyone by placing him as a forward in San Mamés. Since then he has emerged as a huge offensive player, unstoppable on the run, with the ability to play from behind and generosity for the last pass. Signed as a pivot, the doubt of next season seems to be between the right wing and the front, a new attack trick for Cholo. The '14' went from playing 30.9% of the minutes in the league before the break to 64.8% and next year he will start as an important player. It has been one of the most unexpected reconversions in a long time.
Beautiful: 1,691 minutes
The center-back has not had an easy year. During the preseason it was confirmed as the first alternative for Giménez and Savic, but Felipe's explosion left him without options. Uncomfortable in his minutes on the left side, Hermoso finished as the fifteenth player on the squad in minutes. His future is up in the air, since the player thought he was going to be more of a protagonist and he enjoys a good market, something that given Atlético's economic situation leaves his possible exit open. With great movement of the ball, he had a period of the course where he became strong with Felipe in the center of the back, but ended up being completely secondary and missing the last two league games due to a direct red against Betis.
Héctor Herrera: 1,530 minutes, one goal and two assists
The case of the Mexican has been curious, when it seemed that he deserved more minutes he did not have them and when he got more continuity, his level dropped. The game against Leipzig left Herrera's role marked, completely surpassed by the German team. Due to his mentality and characteristics, it seemed that he would fit like a glove to Simeone's system. However, it has not had a good course. He has alternated a good game in the middle, breaking lines with a house-brand pass to Lodi that caused several goals, with an inability to own the games. Keep in mind that Herrera arrived at no cost and its continuity is not entirely confirmed.
Carrasco: 718 minutes, one goal and two assists
The return of the Belgian has been a source of fresh air. Incorporated on the last day of the winter market, after the break it has recovered the best version before going to China. Unstoppable in career, unbalancing and hard-working, Carrasco's continuity is an important point for next season and everything seems well under way. His game at the Camp Nou was splendid, forcing two penalties and making it clear that in form he is a great player. He finished the course as the undisputed starter and against Leipzig he was, together with João Félix, the only fine player near the rival area.
Saponjic: 64 minutes
The Serbian has had a null presence. The twenty-fourth player on the squad in minutes, Behind Adán and Manu Sánchez, he made his Cup debut against Cultural and only had residual minutes against Leganés and Celta. Little can be said about Saponjic. At 22 years old, he will have to look for the role elsewhere.
