Bringing in Carlos Tevez would be a bad call by Atletico's Simeone

Murmurs have arisen that Atletico Madrid could replace Mario Mandžukić with Carlos Tevez, but this would be the wrong move in the long run for Atlético Madrid.

Atlético and particularly Diego Simeone have demonstrated an impressive track record in replacing departing strikers over the years. Over a decade of transfer business conducted by the Madrid club has seen Atléti walk away from deals benefiting financially and acquiring players of similar, if not better, quality.

Atléti’s rich history of decorated strikers includes the likes of Hugo Sánchez, Christian Vieri, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Fernando Torres, Sergio Agüero, Diego Forlán, Radamel Falcao, Diego Costa and David Villa. Atléti’s current front line is occupied by Mario Mandžukić and Antoine Griezmann, along with the return of golden boy Torres on loan.

With Costa and Villa departing after the successful 2013-14 campaign to Chelsea and New York City, Simeone moved straight away in replacing them with Mandžukić from Bayern Munich, believed to be in the region for €22 million, and Griezmann from La Liga rivals Real Sociedad for €30 million, after matching the required buy-out clause in Griezmann’s contract.

Griezmann proved to be a coup for Simeone’s side, outscored in La Liga only by the supreme duo of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, with an impressive 22 league goals in his first season for Atléti. Chelsea and other powerhouse clubs have expressed interest in securing the Frenchman, however Simeone has strongly stated his desire to maintain the exciting forward for the following season.

Mandžukić, on the other hand, only mustered 12 league goals in 28 appearances, but 20 in all competitions. Those figures have fuelled rumours of a potential exit one year into joining the club. Rumours of the Croatian leaving were further fuelled when Simeone was questioned on the topic of the player and his performances.

Simeone told AS: “He (Mandžukić) annoys me easily, that’s the reality. He is a great player and a decent lad. He himself is down about not maintaining the form he displayed up until February.”

Manchester United have reportedly been offered the chance to purchase the fiery Croatian and Simeone has discussed the club’s interest in Champions League finalist Carlos Tevez as his replacement.

“With Carlos, I have to admit I haven’t spoken with him but I know people at the club are talking to his agent,” Simeone said.

“It’s always exciting to be linked with players like Tevez. He has the game in his blood. He’d be an ideal signing for our style of play.”

Tevez’s return of 20 league goals for Juventus in Serie A, as well as hardworking, bulldoggish displays by the Argentine, seem to have convinced his countryman into luring the forward to Madrid. Juve’s signing of exciting youngster Paulo Dybala from Palermo suggests Tevez’s departure from Turin could be imminent. However, it would be a huge risk for Simeone to part ways with Mandžukić in favour of Tevez.

The first major risk involves the idea of letting go of a 20+ goalscorer at the age of 29 for a striker at the age of 31 who boosts a similar goalscoring rate. One would say Tevez brings more to a team than his goals, notably a defensive work rate that many forwards do not possess. Mandžukić however is also known for this attribute but differs in playing style, yet works well for Atléti, with his hold-up play and aerial threat a thorn to oppositions.

His ability to hold off defenders has at times set up and opened play for Griezmann to score and create. With both featuring the attributes Simeone desires as well as the goals, the idea of bringing in a player close to the end of his peak to replace a player two years younger suggests a short return for the club.

Another gamble associated with Tevez is his desire to return to his homeland. This has seen the player at one stage looking to retire from the game indefinitely to make this happen. Tevez has been openly stated his intentions to return to Boca Juniors at some stage, doing so even before moving to Juve. Further, he has stated Juventus will be the last European club he plays for.

“When I signed for three years with Juve, I said from the start, also to the club, that this would be my last contract before returning to Boca,” Tevez announced back in January.

With Tevez seemingly destined for a return to Boca, convincing him of a move to Atléti is already looking difficult. However, if Simeone were to be successful, the length of Tevez staying surely would not be long. With his high wages, the risk in investing in the 31-year-old suggests the money could be better spent elsewhere, and the likelihood of making a return on a 31-year-old is low.

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The Argentinian seems like a short-term stop for a club that is looking to develop in the long run and compete against Barcelona and Real Madrid regularly. However with Atléti close to securing Villarreal striker Luciano Vietto, Torres available through loan and Raul Garcia and Raul Giminez already on the books, there is limited space for Tevez.

Exciting talent Vietto, at the age of 21, looks to be the ideal signing if filling the potential void of Mandžukić. With 12 league goals and eight goals in the Europa League to his name this past season, the future looks promising for the youngster.

A partnership alongside Griezmann and Torres looks to be exciting for the La Liga side next season. While the idea of bringing in Tevez will strengthen the side, his acquisition would be something of a gamble, one not usually associated with Atletico Madrid.

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