Atlético incorporated many footballers at the beginning of the season, in an exercise in which Simeone had to renew almost all the lines of the team. Atlético had significant losses, such as Godín, Juanfran, Filipe Luis or Griezmann, emblematic players of the entity. And Atlético reinforced line by line to try to ensure that the team's performance was not less. After two thirds of the championship, three players have made a place in Atlético's starting eleven and They have shown that his signing was worth it. What Atlético paid for them now seems like a bargain: Trippier, Felipe and Lodi. All three are part of a defense that continues to perform at an excellent level. Among the three, Atlético paid just over 60 million euros and for this price Simeone has renewed his defense. Lodi, for example, has many years ahead to render.
Trippier curdled from the first moment at Atlético. The Englishman has played 26 matches in official competition (19 in LaLiga, five in Champions and two in the Spanish Super Cup). In total, 2,187 minutes of competition. With 29 years it seems that he has been a life in the rojiblanco team. For Cholo it is basic and he missed seven games due to the pubic operation. Atlético signed him for about 24 million euros. It was a success. The player also said that he is delighted to have signed for the Madrid team, where he hopes to win a title.
Lodi arrived at Atlético with the difficult mission of making Filipe Luis forget, one of the historical records of the Madrid entity. It has been difficult for him to adapt to the defensive system and the intensity that Cholo asks when defending, but nobody doubts him anymore. In attack he is a player who overflows, and in defense it is no longer so easy to beat him. He has played 33 games (23 in LaLiga, eight in the Champions League and two in the Spanish Super Cup). In total 2,500 minutes. With contract until 2025, Lodi is called to mark an era at Atlético. The Brazilian cost just over 20 million euros, a figure that right now seems that the club can amortize.
Felipe was one of those signings who made little noise on arrival. At first he was called to be the substitute for Giménez, but the Uruguayan's injury gave him ownership. His business card was not the best, since he was 30 years old and many people understood that he was already older to offer a great performance. Felipe is the head of the rojiblanca defense. With a contract until 2022, he has played 31 games (21 in the championship, seven in the Champions League, two in the Spanish Super Cup and one in the Copa del Rey). In total, 2,791 minutes. It cost around 20 million euros, a figure that then seemed very high and that now seems almost like a gift.