According to the Daily Sports newspaper, Atletico Madrid still have several outgoing transfers and signings pending this summer, with Alvarez's future the most crucial.
The three signings Atletico Madrid have already finalized – Morten Hjulmand, Lee Kang-in, and Grimaldo – have excited the Rojiblancos fans. However, Atletico Madrid's transfer market is far from over. Mateu Alemany will face several pending matters in the final few weeks of the summer window, and he needs to resolve them to ensure the team has a successful season.
The immediate priority is to clear out players. Atletico Madrid have invested significantly to sign the aforementioned three new players, with fixed transfer fees of approximately 93 million euros, and the total cost could exceed 100 million euros if add-on clauses are met. However, this does not mean Atletico Madrid will give up on further signings. To strengthen the squad, Simeone also wants a defender and an attacker, with the latter preferably being versatile.
The club needs to generate revenue, free up salary space, and reduce the overstocking of players in certain positions. Therefore, letting some players go is crucial.
Thiago Almada's situation appears to be nearing a satisfactory resolution, with CA River Plate (Arg) and Flamengo both vying for him. Previously, all signs indicated that Flamengo had secured the player's agreement and only needed to finalize the details with Atletico Madrid. However, in recent hours, several Latin American media outlets have reported that CA River Plate (Arg) successfully intervened in the deal.
According to Bitbol, CA River Plate (Arg) will pay 21 million euros for 50% of Almada's playing rights, bringing him to the team coached by Coudet. The deal will help Atletico Madrid recover its previous investment in signing Almada from Botafogo while also freeing up a squad place. With Lee Kang-in joining, Simeone already has several options in the relevant positions.
Molina's situation is different. Atletico Madrid do not need to force him out, but if an attractive offer arrives, the club are willing to listen to proposals. The Argentine full-back performed poorly at the Club World Cup, but he still has a market in leagues such as Italy. Selling him could help the sporting management push through other operations.
Roma have been linked with Molina, but so far, no offer has met Atletico Madrid's demands. Therefore, Molina could be sold, but his departure is not imminent.
Ruggieri is also a player Atletico Madrid are willing to listen to offers for, especially after Grimaldo's arrival. The full-back also has a strong market in Italy, but his intention is to stay in Madrid and compete for a place with the Spanish international. Like Molina, Ruggieri will only leave if he receives a financially attractive offer.
Gimenez's situation is more emotional. The Uruguayan defender is one of the most senior players in the squad and a voice in the dressing room, with deep affection for the club. However, his high salary and recurring physical problems have led the club to consider opening the door for his departure and bringing in another center-back to strengthen the defense.
Neither appears to occupy a primary role in the team's sporting plans, and both need to find a destination that guarantees playing time. As for Lemar, the main difficulty remains financial, because from a competitive perspective, he left a good impression during his time at Girona. His salary and injury history reduce the number of clubs willing to take the risk of signing him, so a loan with shared wages might be the most realistic way to help him through this season.
Carlos Martín's situation will be slightly easier. Atletico Madrid must decide whether to opt for a permanent sale, a loan, or a solution that allows them to retain some rights.
But no matter is more important than Alvarez. The Argentine forward is one of the players with the highest market value in the squad, and he is also irreplaceable due to his contributions on the field. The player has made it clear that he wants a new challenge, and it is widely believed that his destination could be Barcelona. Since then, his future has become the biggest saga of the summer.
Nevertheless, Atletico Madrid's official stance remains firm: Julian is not on the transfer list. His contract runs until 2030, and the club insists on payment of his release clause, which Barcelona is unwilling to meet. In theory, only a huge offer could change the situation. However, the summer window still has a long way to go, and Barcelona believes Atletico Madrid will not force a star who does not want to stay to remain.
Meanwhile, teams such as Arsenal and PSG are standing by for now, but are still closely monitoring everything happening around Atletico Madrid.
Mateu Alemany still has several potential transfer matters to address. If Atletico Madrid can complete the anticipated sales, some of the revenue could be used to sign another attacker, especially if Julian ultimately leaves. Sørloth does not appear to be leaving, but Simeone wants more firepower up front.
Atletico Madrid want a young, versatile player who can operate in multiple attacking positions. Belgian international Fernandés Pardo is one of the names to have recently emerged prominently in the spotlight. The Lille attacker fits several characteristics valued by the sporting management, but the French club will not let him go easily. The Lille president has stated that the player is not on the transfer list and has repeatedly emphasized that his contract expires in 2029.
Furthermore, Lille have no need to accept low offers, especially with other Premier League clubs joining the race, and can demand a high transfer fee.
Another option is Brugge forward Tresoldi, although interest in him has cooled in recent weeks. The Italian-German forward performed well last season, scoring 23 goals, and his transfer fee could be close to 30 million euros.
Whether Atletico Madrid sign another defender will depend directly on the situations of Gimenez, Molina, and Ruggieri. Atletico Madrid are exploring the center-back market, although their first choice is "Cuti" Romero, who will not continue at Tottenham, but that operation appears complicated. Nubie's name has also been mentioned, but for now it is purely interest.
In addition to the aforementioned players, similar situations arise in every transfer window, and Atletico Madrid have also been linked with many players. Grealish, Bergvall, and even Gyökeres are examples. Regarding Gyökeres, there was even a possible scenario involving Alvarez plus Cash.
Rumors aside, Mateu Alemany still has plenty of matters to resolve. Undoubtedly, Alvarez's situation could change everything.
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