Rodrigo Moreno
The Spanish player was very close to Atlético de Madrid. Simeone insisted on signing him to complete the team’s lead but in the end it could not be as it depended on Correa’s departure.
Photo:
JOSE JORDAN
AFP
updated to
James Rodriguez
The Colombian player was on the rojiblancos’ agenda when he was still unclear if he would return to Real Madrid after being on loan at Bayern Munich. Faced with the possibility of not counting for Zidane, the player himself showed interest in Atlético.
Photo:
PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU
AFP
updated to
Edinson Cavani
Simeone wanted him to come at the time Griezmann was signed, he was very close, but he finally ended up at PSG for financial reasons. It continues to be a priority for the Argentine coach every time the transfer market opens.
Photo:
FRANCK FIFE
AFP
updated to
Ivan Rakitic
The Croatian player was on the red and white agenda in the summer of 2013 but his possible signing was scheduled for the following season. In June 2014, Barcelona reached an agreement with him and with Sevilla, a fact that distanced him from Atlético de Madrid.
Photo:
Tim Clayton – Corbis
Corbis via Getty Images
updated to
Lacazette
The Arsenal player was about to sign for the Madrid team in 2017 but was prevented by the FIFA sanction for which the rojiblancos could not sign during the two market windows of that year. If the TAS that summer had lifted the punishment, Lacazette would have arrived at Atlético.
Photo:
Visionhaus
updated to
Icardi
Inter wanted to get rid of the Argentine striker and the Italian club offered the player to the Atletico club. That year, finally, Atlético de Madrid opted for the young Portuguese promise João Félix and Icardi ended up at PSG.
Photo:
FRANCOIS LENOIR
REUTERS
updated to
Dybala
With the departure of Griezmann from Atlético de Madrid, one of the most exciting substitutes among the Atletico fans was the Juventus striker from Turin, according to a survey carried out by Diario AS. Dybala came out ahead of players like Lacazette, Aubameyang, Oyarzabal.
Photo:
MASSIMO PINCA
REUTERS
updated to
Alexis Sanchez
“I don’t see him leaving another Premier League club and I think he should go back to La Liga. I see Alexis joining a club like Atlético de Madrid”, explained Andrei Kanchelskis, United’s historic winger, in the ‘Daily Express’. These statements came amid rumors (later confirmed) that the Chilean would leave the English club. As is known, the Chilean finally ended up at Inter.
Photo:
MARCO BERTORELLO
AFP
updated to
Ricardo Quaresma
The Portuguese player was in the orbit of Atlético in 2006, so many were the rumors of his arrival that the Portuguese issued a statement denying it. In 2009 they became interested in him again, even his club at that time, Inter, offered him to Atleti in their eagerness to sign Agüero. Finally he never came.
Photo:
JOHN THYS
AFP
updated to
Tomas Rosicky
The Czech footballer dazzled at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, so speculation began about a possible transfer to Atlético de Madrid, but he finally signed for Arsenal for three seasons.
Photo:
Alan Walter
REUTERS
updated to
Riquelme
The Argentine footballer was on the red-and-white agenda, there was a meeting and interest on both sides, but in the end the negotiations ended.
Photo:
MARCOS BRINDICCI
REUTERS
updated to
Carlos Tevez
The Argentine player received Simeone’s call several times showing him interest in joining the club. The team made him a firm offer but finally decided that he wanted to return to his land, along with his family and friends, and he wanted Boca.
Photo:
ALEJANDRO PAGNI
AFP
updated to
Higuain
According to the Italian newspaper Tuttosport that Higuaín wanted to return to Spain and play for Atlético de Madrid. The diary was based on a few words by Diego Borinsky, a journalist and friend of the Argentine’s family.
Photo:
Daniele Badolato – Juventus FC
Juventus FC via Getty Images
updated to
Van der Vaart
It was around the summer of 2008 when Atlético de Madrid was preparing the Champions League project. The Dutchman was postulated as the icing on the project. At that time Rafael van der Vaart was at Hamburg and that same summer he ended up signing for Real Madrid.
Photo:
TONI RODRIGUEZ
Diario As
updated to