The upcoming months at Atlético de Madrid are going to be very intense regarding movements in the Colchonero squad, with several pending matters. The sports management did not want to bring in any reinforcements in the winter market, as they ruled out acquiring any short-term solutions with little future. Another task in the Metropolitano offices involves the renewals of some of the important footballers in Simeone's plans.
Names like Koke and Antoine Griezmann have not given a reply about their future, while others like Giuliano Simeone and Pablo Barrios are in the process. Both could extend their ties with the Rojiblanco team until 2030, securing them to ward off any foreign interest. However, there is also the danger that a player might receive an offer so exorbitant that it makes him consider his future and decide to leave next summer.
Offer Rejected at the Metropolitano
Obviously, it's difficult to retain those footballers who receive proposals that significantly improve their salary, although Atlético de Madrid will not make it easy. In January, they received a 25 million euro offer from West Ham United for Rodrigo de Paul, which was rejected as it was considered insufficient. Moreover, the Argentine is going through his best moment since he arrived at the Colchonero team in 2021, making it almost impossible for them to let him go now.
Even so, the latest information points to interest from Inter Miami of Leo Messi to incorporate the world champion, although there are no options. In fact, the intention at the Metropolitano is to renew him in the coming months, as his contract ends in 2026 and they don't want to lose him at his best moment. Everything indicates that Rodrigo de Paul also has no intention of changing scenery, at least in the short term, making it a negotiation that is expected to be very straightforward.
Indisputable for Simeone
This season is seeing one of the most balanced squads at Atlético de Madrid in recent years, with several players per position. The usual double pivot is formed by the Argentine alongside Pablo Barrios, while Koke has taken on a more secondary role, coming off the bench on several occasions. Before the classic against Real Madrid, he had started four consecutive matches, although in two of those games Pablo Barrios was unavailable.
Even so, the Rojiblanco captain is one of the outfield players with the most minutes this season, surpassing 2,000 so far. In this scenario, it would be logical to think that he will renew his contract, although it will be the exclusive decision of the homegrown player, as the club wants him to stay. Whatever happens, most of the squad is giving their best version and attitude on the field, and that is reflected in the results.