Diego Simeone has admitted that Atletico Madrid are no longer the people's team, as he had christened them five years ago.
His approach with Los Rojiblancos has been built on exactly that, but now things have changed.
Atleti have had a huge transformation since his 2012 arrival. Now, they're expected to compete with Spain and Europe's best on a weekly basis; they have a stunning and modern new stadium; and they can afford to spend big on stars.
Budget and investment
This summer alone, Atleti have spent 243 million euros, which is a far cry from the summer of 2012 when Emiliano Insua, Cata Diaz, Emre Belozoglu, Cristian Rodriguez and Domingo Cisma joined. The budget that year was 123 million euros, whereas it was over 400 million euros for the past year.
New stadium
The Estadio Wanda Metropolitano is a phenomenon that has allowed the club to grow exponentially. Their number of members has risen and, with it, so has their income. They averaged 40,000 fans at the Estadio Vicente Calderon; now they average close to 60,000.
Star signings
Joao Felix came in this summer, Alvaro Morata arrived previously, and Thomas Lemar came before that. Atleti shop in a different market now.
Improved infrastructure
The club are building their own training centre in Alcala de Henares that will serve the academy as well as the first team.
Temiball
0
No more the people's team
CollinsNWE
1
they were never the people team
Mahendraer
2
If they are no longer the people's team .. They can no longer go victims? Of poor team?
Facesea
1
1981 Youth Cup Final: Real Madrid 2 - Athletic Bilbao 1. And again the broken network! What things happen to Madri since youth, eh?
Defenses
2
They are no longer the poor team that cried so much, although they still have the same losing DNA that makes them celebrate being second in order to stay above Madrid, or celebrate friendly
idiotkk
1
Well, we won the League in 2013-2014, not in the previous one. In 2012-2013, 1 million was spent at Cata Díaz, in 2013-2014 6 was spent at Toby Alderweilder and 2 at Villa, plus some ceded reinforcements or calderilla, after selling 45-60 kilos to Falcao (according to source). Atletico in 2013-2014 had a budget of 115 kilos, which although it is not the Eibar was the same as the Leicester had when he won the Premier, and this League must be won by RM and BÇA, not Tottenham. Hence the team of the people, which he never mentioned again.
negative
0
I like it better, ZIDANE APRIETA! Headline, which convinces me more!
Carloer
0
But what town or town? Madrid is a city since before football was invented.
ookiss
0
The sparring in Champions of Madrid. They will never surpass that of Lisbon and Milan. You have to admit that it was too hard. Of course, the Champions owes the Qarabag.
pompoe
0
When the Metropolitan complex is finished, it will be the envy of Europe
posod
1
Well, they earn titles like the ones they give in any town
Elsamek
0
The funny thing is that they laugh at a 3-7 in a regular game, little they remember the two champions they lost :)
Keplerer
0
It is no longer worth that we cannot fight the 2 ocean liners, I have been saying it for more than 3 years, we have to go out to compete and beat them ...
damone
0
Actually, nothing that this article says is what Simeone has said, but if it makes her ant happy, let her take advantage of you.
eyebrower
0
Those who justify that they have taken 300 and bought for 200 ... The Ajax will take this summer between 220-250 and not even half of that will be spent, because they can not afford it, has Atlético sold a lot? Yes, but a club capable of reinvesting money is a club that has money, I don't mean it, because you basically deserved it for the work of these years, but don't go for poor children, because it doesn't strain.
wanzs
0
As I said last year, Atleti is forced to fight for all titles. It would be a failure not to win anything because the club has grown tremendously both at a sports level and at an economic level.
zoekid
0
I am from Barça and Atlético is already bigger than Milan, which is a club without its own stadium and that lives on memories and the same.
ballstars
0
A coach who earns 24 million euros per season, and is allowed to say village team, will be from the rich villages. If what this guy earns is more than the budgets of many top teams
humidity
0
It is necessary to remember that this of the People's Team is born from Sergio Ramos calling himself Madrid as the "Team of God" before playing against San Lorenzo, a team that Pope Francis is fond of
Salina
0
Come on, article against Atleti as a result of Simeone's idea to say that Madrid does not have a school defined as Ajax and Barça. From the creators of "scarf journalism" comes the variant "revenge journalism"
ballstars
0
I do not understand, really. He has sold more than 300 million in sales and spent just over 200 million. Tell the truth pamphlet
wanzs
0
What Barcelona has not done in 100 years, Burger King has done in just 2 seasons ... upload to Madrid
postage
1
I believe that Atleti has grown a lot. It is still one step below Madrid and Barça in terms of economy (it cannot have 3-4 players collecting salaries of 10-15M at a time for example), but a barbarity is approaching, and to continue like this in 4-5 years get it. It would be great for La Liga 3 Top teams
Jessicaa
1
That Simeone is the best thing that could have happened to Atleti there is no doubt.
humidityi
0
The team of the town is the EIBAR (27,000hab.), Incredible that this club is where it is and barely gives importance, I can not imagine the team of my town (which has + 30,000 inhabitants) in the 1st division and competing well against Any team, from the distance my most sincere congratulations.
Paullove
0
Everyone has the right to give themselves luxury if I work for them that is not a crime and that I don't like Atlético
Stephnine
0
Let's see, Atlético has a large social mass and also a good budget for years. This year he has spent a lot on signings, but look at the people who have left them and for how much, it is not that they have done as the PSG that took Neymar and Mbappe from an unsold sale ... that is a rich team, Atleti simply reinvested (and well) the money he has entered with players who have left.
retirement
1
By the way, when you talk about money spent on signings when you are interested, do you ignore the income ehhh? How much have you spent in relation to what you received from sales?
Matbmsz
1
Can’t win trophies playing 4-4-2 week in and week out. Will end up on top 3-4, go to semifinals but that’s it. By trophies of course I mean LaLiga and UEFA champion.
raynknight
1
Coz People is Griezmann's nickname and they r no more people's team !!!
NewsanRaes
2
Now Atletico era starts no longer Real Madrid and Barcalona.
Vezonic22
0
Simeone, quit talking and just do your best. We will take it from there.
Hoaainrtu
1
We’re taking la liga this season
AnwarJemil
0
your confidence is too early itt's just preeseason winn...you have to expect tomuch force from other team when the real gama start and pripare for that