Grbic disappears from the map

Atlético closely follows the evolution of its more than 20 players on loan. And if some like Riquelme, Manu Sánchez or Camello continue with their growth since the start of the season, there are others whose slowdown worries the club. It is the case of Ivo Grbicwhich is concentrated with the Croatian national team for the next friendlies against Slovenia and Bulgaria, but who has completely lost his place at Lille.

The Croatian goalkeeper, arrived at Atlético in the summer of 2020 as a replacement for Oblak, went on loan at the beginning of the course in search of a few minutes that the Slovenian denied him (in his first year he only participated in a Copa del Rey match as a rojiblanco). Born in January 1996, Grbic’s first premise was to be able to play to demonstrate his qualities and not stall his short career by spending another blank season. And the addition of him to the current French champion, who had lost Mike Maignan to Milan, It seemed very positive for all parties, with Lille keeping a purchase option at the end of the course.

And, after taking control of the goal as soon as he arrived, after having served for the last time as Oblak’s substitute goalkeeper in Balaídos, Grbic chained 29 consecutive games as a starter at Lille, conceding 35 goals and leaving only five clean sheets. The Croatian was alternating good performances with mistakes that led to goals. something that led to Jocelyn Gourvennec to restore Leo Jardim’s confidence February 12. The 27-year-old Brazilian goalkeeper had fit seven goals in the first two league games before the arrival of Grbic and had been relegated to the stands. But now, he has been able to take advantage of his coach’s new opportunity.

Jardim have kept a clean sheet in their last five consecutive league games, the only one of the major leagues to do so. Although Chelsea came through the Champions League tie well, 4-1 on aggregate, little could be blamed on the goalkeeper. Eight games in a row that have made it clear that today the Brazilian is ahead of Grbic and that they have the Atlético goalkeeper for more than a month without minutes, something that makes it quite difficult for Lille to exercise their purchase option. The transfer of the goalkeeper has been twistingand Atlético will have to analyze options while working on its future and negotiating with Oblak’s entourage, whose contract ends in 2023.