LOSING Antoine Griezmann to Barcelona looked to be bad news for Atletico Madrid.
They also lost Rodri and Lucas Hernandez to record fees for Manchester City and Bayern Munich respectively as well as experienced defenders Filipe Luis and Diego Godin.
But despite all this, there is plenty of reason for optimism at the Wanda Metropolitano.
The new season will bring a new look side but one Diego Simeone will surely be able to get the best out of.
You would hope so, considering eight players have come in for a total exceeding £200million.
Signing Joao Felix from Benfica – and pipping plenty of other big European clubs – was a statement of intent.
Atleti paid £112m for the Portuguese prodigy, 19, and Simeone will be desperate to see how the youngster fairs in his debut LaLiga season.
Diego Costa only scored two league goals in 16 appearances last term as he struggled with form and injuries.
But the fiery striker will be desperate to be firing on all cylinders, especially with Alvaro Morata fighting for his place in the side.
Morata will make his loan deal from Chelsea permanent for £58.3m next summer and plenty is expected from the former Real Madrid forward.
MIDFIELD MIX
Simeone may not have Rodri any longer to dominate the middle of the park.
But he does now have Marcos Llorente, another holding midfielder, signed from city-rivals Real for £35m.
He will surely be deployed in midfield with skipper Koke and one of the stars of the last 12 months, Saul Niguez.
But former Porto captain Hector Herrera will also be pushing for a starting spot after joining on a free.
Simeone has built a stellar reputation for organising his defences and getting his side to keep clean sheets.
But he will have his work cutout this term as he tries to ensure his new defenders gel quickly.
Thankfully, they will have one of the world’s best goalkeepers behind them with Jan Oblak between the sticks.
Kieran Trippier made the plunge from Tottenham to Atletico in a bold move and will be desperate to make a good impression.
He has started to do so already, taking Spanish lessons to help integrate with the squad and the city.
Atletico legend Godin moved on after nine years at the club to join Inter Milan, while Luis returned to his homeland Brazil.
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It means his Uruguayan compatriot Jose Giminez is the only first-choice defender set to remain in the defence.
Mario Hermoso – a centre-back from Espanyol – and Brazilian left-back Renan Lodi have signed for a combined £40m and Felipe has arrived from Porto for £17.7m to complete a new-look, but equally-as-dangerous Atletico Madrid.
Barcelona and Real Madrid, beware.
https://textbacklinkexchanges.com/how-atletico-madrid-can-line-up-next-season-after-spending-200m-on-eight-players-including-trippier-and-felix/
News Photo How Atletico Madrid can line up next season after spending £200m on eight players including Trippier and Felix
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