Moussa Dembelé on Wednesday became the twelfth French player to sign for Atlético de Madrid throughout its history. Something that may surprise because in recent years we have come to see France win a World Cup with three mattresses such as Griezmann, Lucas Hernández and Lemar who moved to the Metropolitan after being champion.
Thomas Lemar (2018- present)
In recent weeks we are seeing its best version. In his day he was the most expensive signing in the history of Atlético de Madrid, a record that Joao Félix snatched from the following campaign. Although his performance has not been consistent until this season in which he begins to be the player for whom the colchoneros bet so hard. In the center with Koke he has found his place and is showing his best football.
Antoine Griezmann (2014-2019)
The last great star of Atlético de Madrid. He came from Real Sociedad as a promise of the Spanish League, Simeone saw from the beginning that if he adapted up front he could be one of the best players in the world and it was fulfilled. In 2018 he won the Bronze Ball … that says it all. As rojiblanco, he played 257 games in which he scored 133 goals and gave 44 assists. He won a Spanish Super Cup, a Europa League and a European Super Cup. In the summer of 2019 he went to Barcelona.
Lucas Hernández (2014-2019)
Despite being French, he grew up from a very young age in the Atlético de Madrid quarry. To which he arrived because his father was a mattress footballer, Jean Françoise Hernández. He was climbing steps to the first team. Where he made a hole by taking advantage of his opportunities and taking the place of legends like Filipe on the left side or substituting with some solvency players like Godín or Savic. He played 110 games and scored one goal. Bayern Munich signed him by paying his release clause.
Kevin Gameiro (2016-2018)
He arrived in the summer of 2016 after making his mark at Sevilla. It was the '9' that had to accompany Griezmann in the lead but did not finish having continuity. Sometimes because of injuries and others because of Cholo's decisions. And that the player left good moments with his compatriot in attack but never finished being important in the team. In 2018 he left through the back door to Valencia. He played 82 games, scored 27 goals and gave eleven assists.
Josuha Guilavogui (2013-14)
It was one of the great promises in France. It came from Saint-Etienne for 10 million euros. Club to which he returned a few months later, before going on loan to Wolfsburg. He is a defensive midfielder who had no place in a squad in which the level was very high with Gabi, Tiago and Mario Suárez. He played seven games.
Gregory Coupet (2008-09)
He signed for Atlético de Madrid in a tumultuous stage. The French goalkeeper was looking for new challenges after winning seven leagues with Olympique Lyonnais in France. However, he was not able to remove Leo Franco from the team. He played 11 games during that year and decided to return to France to play for PSG.
Sinama Pongolle (2008-2010)
He landed at Atlético de Madrid after having made great numbers at Recreativo de Huelva. It was about a player who in his day signed Liverpool because he was a promise of world football. He came to the club to give Forlán and Agüero rest and competitiveness. Something that he did not achieve is that it was not an easy task. So after a season and a half he went to Sorting de Portugal. He played 58 games, only 26 starting, and scored seven goals and gave two assists.
Peter Luccin (2004-07)
At Celta de Vigo he became one of the best midfielders in the League, and Atlético de Madrid recruited him for a team that was looking for a midfielder to guide their game. He had a prominent role the time he was there, in fact he left when he began to lose prominence in the eleven. 101 rojiblanco games and his plaque on the Paseo de las Leyendas, in which he scored two goals and gave an assist.
Jean-François Hernández (2000-2001)
At Rayo Vallecano he stood out as a solid center-back and that earned him Atlético de Madrid recruiting him after his relegation to Second. But he did not play a leading role in the team and the following year he returned to the franjirrojo team. He played 16 rojiblanco matches. Although currently people remember him more for being the father of the mattress youth squad Lucas and Theo Hernández, who now play for Bayern Munich and Milan. Theo's case is special because he did not have minutes with the Atlético de Madrid first team, after his loan to Alavés he signed for Real Madrid.
Jean-François Larios (1983)
Despite arriving as a star signing from Saint Ettiene and being known for being part of the French team alongside Plattini, he did not make his debut with Atlético de Madrid. After a few weeks training with the colchoneros, he returned to France. His version was that he returned to take care of his son who was ill and that of the club who had a meniscus injury.
Marcel Domingo (1948-1951)
He is the first Frenchman to play for Atlético de Madrid. He was a goalkeeper and for three seasons he became one of the best in the Spanish League. He won two consecutive rojiblancos leagues and a Zamora Trophy. Disputing 86 games in three different seasons. After that stage he returned to his country to play for Nice for a season and then return to Spain to play for Espanyol with which he achieved another Zamora.
Already in his coaching stage, he returned to the club in 1969 to direct him for three seasons. To which he returned in 79 to win a third League from the benches in 80.
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