Atletico Madrid cannot afford to ignore off-pitch mistakes

No, it’s not adequate. It by no means was, and it by no means shall be. And but, regardless of every little thing, issues haven’t modified a bit. Atletico Madrid are in an ungainly scenario, even by their very own requirements. No person can declare they need to be thought-about on even footing with Actual Madrid and Barcelona for the title problem. An excessive amount of distinction in cash spent, wages and custom to demand that from Diego Pablo Simeone’s males. Nonetheless, they need to be placing up a struggle. Each single season, at the very least till it dries out within the spring. And extra so after spending a lot cash previously two switch markets. With new funding,  the time has come to search for a step up, however the Colchoneros have mentally locked themselves in a everlasting state of unrest.

It appears inconceivable, that after so many summers investing closely and rebooting the venture, Atletico Madrid centre-backs are nonetheless Robin Le Normand – a strolling chaos – and Jose Gimenez, probably the most injury-prone Uruguayan the world has ever seen. It doesn’t make any sense that Nahuel Molina remains to be a part of a squad that fights each for the league and the Champions League, and that Jan Oblak must carry out miracles week after week simply to scrub up the mess his defence typically leaves him

Simeone’s first stint was topped with an Europa League, a Copa del Rey and La Liga title, and featured two Champions League finals. After all, the likes of Radamel Falcao, Diego Costa, and Antoine Griezmann had all of the credit score, however Simeone’s defence was the principle power. Within the likes of Diego Godin and Miranda, he had a superb centre-back duo. Juanfran on the appropriate, and notably Filipe Luis on the left, have been a few of the finest on this planet. Strong and dependable, they allowed the group to go ahead with out concern of being uncovered.

Ten years later, the Argentine supervisor has been fully unable to reboot that line of defense. He tried a back-four, a back-three and a back-five, and none have labored. Atletico have spent cash, plenty of it, however have by no means come near discovering the following Godin, the following Miranda or the following Filipe. Atletico’s defence is getting worse with every passing season, and the membership retains making the identical form of errors within the switch market that postpone the much-needed change, notably as Oblak, good as he’s, is just not getting any youthful.

But, even when that was Atletico’s solely concern, it might be fixable, however in 2026, Koke stays probably the most dependable midfielder in Atletico’s squad. The identical Koke who needed to struggle for a spot within the beginning XI with the likes of Gabri, Tiago and even Saul Niguez when he first got here into the facet. Pablo Barrios is an excellent prospect of a top-class participant, however he’s nonetheless not fairly there but, and there’s merely no plan B on an important place on the pitch, for a facet that should discover stability between their defensive frailties and their attacking limitations.

Sure, Julian Alvarez may need been the form of striker one would count on from a membership that poached the likes of Diego Forlan, Sergio Aguero or Falcao, however way more was anticipated of Alexander Sorloth. Regardless of all the hassle and perspective from Giuliano Simeone, Atleti nonetheless lack readability in entrance of purpose. A lot in order that an nearly retired Antoine Griezmann remains to be wanted to return to the rescue sometimes. Positive, Simeone invested primarily in looking for the attacking midfield trio he wished to help Alvarez, and regardless of all of the promise, neither Thiago Almada nor Alex Baena have been as much as normal, be it on account of harm or lack of belief. What Atletico Madrid are at present, in January 2026, remains to be an enigma rooted in a collection of previous errors.

💣🚨 BREAKING: Pablo Barrios is MOST seemingly OUT for the Spanish Tremendous Cup semifinal towards Actual Madrid. It’s nearly IMPOSSIBLE for him to take part following at present’s assessments.

He’ll nonetheless journey with the group in case of a potential closing, which he has slim probabilities for.@marca pic.twitter.com/lyoELigcCE

— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) January 5, 2026

Prior to now summer time, Atletico spent a small fortune. A lot of the signings are but to show their price; €22m on Giacomo Raspadori is not sensible, nor does €17m on Matteo Ruggeri, who has underperformed within the first half the season. Between Johnny Cardoso and David Hancko, who barely have an honest match to their names, the membership spent greater than €50m. In Marc Pubill and Thiago Almada, there are prospects for the longer term, however they have been price, mixed, a complete of €40m. Give or take, it’s €120m on six gamers who’ve given little to the venture to this point, to not point out the signing of Baena, who ought to by now have been the boss of the facet.

The earlier season was no totally different. Alvarez is an excellent participant, out of shape, however the €75m spent on him locations expectation a lot increased. The identical summer time, Conor Gallagher price an astounding €42m that no person can fairly clarify (except trying on the exit of Joao Felix, one other matter), the identical means that Le Normand and Sorloth mixed price an extra €70m. The overall is at greater than €330m in two summer time markets, a file for Atletico.

They’ve offered, as properly, to maintain the books balanced, however what this implies is that, save for a participant or two, the funding hasn’t paid off. Not solely that, it has not solved the membership’s points from earlier than the 2024 switch market. A porous, feeble line of defense, with out dependable gamers at every place. A midfield that lacks each creativity and a commanding presence. Wingers who can help and rating targets freely, and a participant who might be the artistic hub, the identical means Griezmann as soon as was. If Baena ultimately steps into the Frenchman’s footwear to povide for Alvarez, Atletico would have gained one thing again from their €140m spent on each, however they’re nonetheless miles away from the heights of Costa-Falcao, or Arda Turan-Griezmann, who arrived for a lot much less cash.

And that’s the difficulty. There are – and the market is there to show it – a lot better gamers obtainable than those signed for the membership. At a lesser price. That comes with a number of questions. Is Simeone the principle man behind the signings? If that’s the case, how does he at all times handle to get it so incorrect? Does Mateu Alemany’s arrival imply the membership will transfer to a special echelon of signings within the close to future, and might he overhaul the errors dedicated so far?

How will the membership offload such disastrous signings like Le Normand or Raspadori with out compromising the cash obtainable for future signings? Simeone has typically been known as out for being a supervisor who calls for that any signings go a number of belief assessments earlier than receiving common soccer. Some gamers survive this form of leap of religion; some don’t. As is the case with different managers who share philosophical traits with him, for Simeone, it’s changing into more durable to search out troopers who’re able to die for him.

It’s a scenario not too dissimilar to what has occurred with Jose Mourinho over the previous few years. Managers who gained the dressing room with soccer ideas, sure, but additionally with a never-say-die perspective that was instilled within the gamers’ souls. However, for that, gamers must be constructed otherwise, mentality-wise, and the newer generations will not be as a lot inquisitive about that discourse because the earlier ones. They need to get pleasure from themselves, play spectacular soccer and go dwelling to their lives. They’ve grow to be workplace clerks in a means, not troopers. And costly ones too.

The most effective left-back Atleti have had since Filipe left stays Yannick Carrasco, who wasn’t even a left-back https://t.co/I1IPwhwLdZ

— Jeremy Beren (@JBBeren) January 5, 2026

What is evident is that Atletico Madrid have spent sufficient cash to, come April, nonetheless be within the title race, in addition to competing within the Champions League quarter-finals. At this time, they appear removed from each. It’s not that they play badly – in truth, for some weeks they have been the facet who performed finest in La Liga – however they maintain making the identical errors on the pitch, errors that often come from the identical errors off it, notably within the switch market.

Why pay a lot cash for Raspadori when Alberto Moleiro was obtainable at Las Palmas? Why spend a small fortune on the likes of Hancko and Le Normand, after they can’t declare to be higher than another decrease desk defensive partnership? Why are Koke and Barrios the one midfielders obtainable, within the league with the perfect midfielders on this planet? These questions want solutions and, regardless that Simeone is aware of he’s untouchable on the membership and amongst followers, if Atletico ever desires to grow to be a critical title contender – even when a step behind Barcelona and Actual Madrid – there are points that they will’t afford to disregard for much longer. There may be loads of hope across the Metropolitano for the approaching seasons, with the revamped surrounds of the stadium, and the brand new buyers coming in, however they should get it proper on the pitch as properly. They usually merely haven’t.