Diego Simeone has moved quickly and successfully in adding quality to his forward line during the transfer period. However, golden boy Fernando Torres is determined to play his part in a successful season for Atlético Madrid and earn himself a contract at the end of his loan deal with his boyhood club.
So much good news has seen Atlético Madrid undergo a busy transfer period in the past few weeks, with the 2013-14 League champions replacing the departed long term and/or senior players with exciting new and younger talent. With each newly recruited player looking to be the last, the Atléti board surprisingly continues in working hard in bringing in more quality names.
Filipe Luís has reported to have arrived in Madrid to complete his return to Atléti. According to Inside Spanish Football, the defender is only days away from an official announcement, with the Chelsea player having travelled to the Vicente Calderón on Wednesday to finalise personal terms and to undergo a medical.
However, the Rojiblancos are not stopping there, with news of President Enrique Cerezo having confirmed interest in Paris Saint-Germain midfield enforcer and former Atléti player Thiago Motta on Thursday.
“He’s a player we’re interested in and honestly, all negotiations are done at their own pace, in this case it’s been a very long process but we are in negotiations.”
In what looks to be a direct replacement for the recently departed Mario Suárez, Diego Simeone, who with his given influence on transfer plans, is creating a fiercely strong competitive team that looks to be able to challenge Barcelona and Real Madrid for the upcoming league title, rather than another season fighting for third against Valencia and Sevilla, who have both also strengthened.
The best managers not only notice and realise the team’s weaknesses, but also make action to improve them. Simeone was open in saying last season that the goal and target for the club was third and unlikely to replicate the triumphant 2013-14 campaign. The departures of key men Diego Costa, Luís, Thibaut Courtois, David Villa and Diego left a big gap and some of the replacements did not live up the high standards of the predecessors, with the team scoring less, conceding more and receiving far less points than the previous season.
Mario Mandžukić, brought in to replace Costa, has already been shipped out 12 months into arriving and now recently replaced by Jackson Martínez. The Colombian seems to tick all the boxes that Simeone requires from his target man, and has impressed in his first few days of training in Los Ángeles de San Rafael, in the hills outside Madrid.
More: How the new Aletico Madrid lineup could look in 2015-16
With the hefty price tag, his age and ability, Martínez will most likely be shifted into the first team for the upcoming season. Luciano Vietto was also brought in to compete for a forward position and alongside last season’s leading goal scorer Antoine Griezmann, provides quite a strike force with plenty of depth.
But it raises the question, where does that leave the prodigal son, El Niño, Fernando Torres?
The 31-year-old, still only with Atléti on loan from AC Milan, is now the veteran centre-forward of the team. No longer guaranteed a starting position, let alone a continuous appearance off the bench, Torres faces an uphill battle to feature regularly. The recent purchases for attacking options has left a mystery on how Simeone will use the Atléti legend for the 2015-16 season.
When Torres returned in January, Simeone made it clear what role the Spaniard would occupy, stating that he was not Atléti’s ‘saviour’. More of an alternative to the physical brute that Mandžukić was known for, Torres was seen as a supportive role that offered a different outlet, a player who can get the most out of star man Griezmann. And El Niño succeeded in this role, fulfilling every task laid upon him.
“I’m happy with him,” Simeone said.
“He is combining better with team-mates. He is giving the team what we need, working very hard, engaging the defence and creating space and giving freedom to Griezmann.”
All up Torres scored six goals – three in La Liga against Getafe, Villarreal and Levante, and three in the Copa del Rey against supreme duo Real (2) and Barcelona (1). Some may suggest a return of six goals as fairly disappointing for a striker, however Torres adapted quickly from being used as the focus point of an attack to a role more familiar as a provider and diversion for the team.
Yet it was not just the ability to open up play for Griezmann that Simeone was impressed with. Torres returned to Madrid with a new determination that was well seen with his goal against Villarreal. Simeone demands high pressure and continuous effort from every player including his centre-forward. Gone are the days of having a striker sit up top and wait for the ball, the coach hassles his htiman to chase and threaten the opposition defence, a trait Torres personified far better than Mandžukić.
It is this determination that Torres has shown in early pre-season for Los Rojiblancos and which has surprised the Atléti coaching staff. Torres has arrived at training in great physical condition, impressing the staff in training and has shown a return of the quick and explosive speed not seen since his Liverpool days, with coach Profe Ortega praising the World Cup winner over the work he has carried out.
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Torres is said to have continued training during the scheduled holiday period for the Atléti players with mentioning to staff that due to his age, he cannot stop for too long because it is harder now for him to return to match fitness. Torres understands his role, yet is sparking high motivation ahead of the new season and is looking to feature dominantly rather than sparingly.
Having never won any silverware with Atléti, Torres is determined to win a title with his boyhood club and is thriving on the competition with the new signings. Rather than be discouraged and seek a move, the 31-year-old appreciates the competition and is working hard to win a place on the team, score goals and ultimately not have the upcoming season his last for the Madrid side. The challenge has been laid upon El Niño and he is going to fight to win a place in Simeone’s new Atléti side.
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Can’t see him starting regularly to be honest, let’s not forget Ángel Correa has the potential to make a real impact this season too!
There is little chance he will have a starting spot thoughout the season but having him there as the elder statesman will do wonders for the team.
I do long for the early Atleti days of El Nino though.
Definitely agree Daniel and Dave. Torres is facing strong competition both with the new recruits and the likes of Correa and Griezmann already on the team. I do see Correa though as a direct replacement for Griezmann in a rotational manner, assuming if Griezmann is not playing on the wing which happened in their first preseason game. Simeone experimented with Torres and Correa partnership which gives this suggestion. I think for at least this upcoming season, Torres will be rotating mainly with Martinez similar to what occurred with Mandžukić last season. Simeone likes a more solid and tougher striker to accomodate Griezmann and Torres did well in that role.