Atletico Madrid appear to have made their mind up on Rodrigo de Paul. As negotiations advance for the Argentina international to leave the club, Los Colchoneros will be forced to restructure their midfield. The antagonist is Diego Simeone.
It is not the first time that Simeone and Atletico have clashed over transfer policy, but it does represent the first clear difference of opinion between himself and Director of Football Carlos Bucero. The latter arrived 18 months ago, and has been handed the power in the recruitment department, following the exit of Andrea Berta. With a Pulsz promo code, you can take similarly difficult decisions, as disagreeing with Simeone is not for the faint-hearted.
The clear benefit to letting go of de Paul is financial. Los Rojiblancos and de Paul seem to be unable to agree on a new contract for the 31-year-old, whose current deal expires next summer. Despite turning down a €25m offer for him in January, Atletico are keen not to lose him for free, and the reported €15m a move to Inter Miami would bring in would at least square of their accounts.
It perhaps also allows Atletico to build towards the future. De Paul has been inconsistent since arriving in Madrid, and that has been an issue for Simeone, given his importance to the team. There is an argument that continuing to rely on de Paul could be counterproductive – his age would suggest that his stamina will decline, and Los Rojiblancos will only get one or two more years at the top level from de Paul.
Simeone’s reluctance to see the move does have credence though. De Paul, despite those inconsistencies, has been a starter week in, week out for Atletico. When at his best, he is a differential player for Los Colchoneros, and particularly with Antoine Griezmann also in the twilight of his Atletico career, his leadership and role in directing the attack would be missed.
Looking at Simeone’s other options, Koke Resurreccion no longer seems fit for starting top-level games. Alex Baena has signed and Johnny Cardoso is expected to follow, and Pablo Barrios is a fine player coming through. Yet the fact remains that de Paul is the only player that is capable of orchestrating on the ball from deep in his own half. Baena will help with creative duties further forward, but Simeone will likely want someone with that nous on the ball beside Barrios and/or Cardoso.
Either way, it will not be a clean decision without negative consequences for Bucero.
