Yannick Carrasco returned to Atlético on tiptoe, after frustrating the great winter signing that was supposed to be Cavani and signing the last day of the market as a loan without practically competing in China during the previous two months (since December 1), once the season had ended and the start of the competition for the outbreak of coronavirus in the Asian country had been paralyzed.
The Belgian had left two years before the Metropolitan Wanda to sign for Dalian Yifang at just 24 years old. A step forward in the economic section, but clearly a step back in the sporting aspect for his career. A player well above the level of the competition, who had achieved 17 goals in 25 games centering his position as second striker, farthest from the left wing where he had shown his best details in Monaco and Atlético.
Key after the break
But Cholo bet on him and always trusted to recover the most vertical version of a footballer who in the 2016-17 season scored 14 goals despite playing on the sidelines. With a workout on his legs he was called up for the Santiago Bernabéu match (where the casualties multiplied above without Herrera, Koke, João Félix and Diego Costa) and had 20 minutes showing his lack of rhythm. With the passing of the matches it was outperforming their direct competition like Vitolo and Lemar in the rotation and also taking minutes from Correa, until he came to a halt as a rotation player.
However, in the back to LaLiga the best Carrasco has been seen. With his work during the confinement, he made a hole in the eleven in San Mamés, to alternate titles and substitutions (five times in each case), but always contributing things to the team. Cholo asked him to squeeze himself every minute, regardless of whether it was 70 or the last five, and the Belgian replied. Against Barcelona he left an exhibition at the Camp Nou, unstoppable for the rival behind until causing two penalties that Saúl ended up converting. Starting from the bench he put the goal that rounded out the win against Osasuna and gave a luxury assist for Diego Costa to score the winning goal against Betis that mathematically classified Atlético for the Champions League. A goal accomplished for which The Belgian was capital in that final sprint (seven wins and four draws since the break).
Atlético negotiates with Dalian
His good work in those last days has led Cholo to ask for Carrasco's continuity next year. The Belgian is at an ideal age, at 26 he is more focused than in his previous stage, And he has shown that he maintains that unbalancing factor that made him a very important player during his first two seasons at the club.
Atlético maintains the open negotiations with the Dalian to have Carrasco next season. For the moment he has made sure his presence in this Champions, with the quarterfinals on the horizon against Leipzig (August 13) and the talks are well underway. The player wants to continue playing rojiblanco and, except for last minute mishaps, he can do so.