Atletico Madrid's young talent Rodrigo Riquelme has been at the centre of transfer rumours all summer. Roma showed a strong interest in the Spanish extrem and the possibility of Riquelme joining the Italian club seemed like a solid option. However, the situation has taken an unexpected turn, changing the player's fate.
Roma's offer for Rodrigo Riquelme
Roma were willing to offer an attractive fee to sign Riquelme, with talk of a six million euro-per-season bid. Manager Daniele De Rossi saw Riquelme as the ideal replacement for Paulo Dybala , who was linked with a move to Al Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia. With the Argentine on the ropes, Roma were looking for a new attacking reinforcement.
Interest shifts to Giovani Lo Celso
Roma have recently turned their attention to Giovani Lo Celso, with Tottenham's Argentine midfielder becoming their priority. Lo Celso is known for his skill and versatility on the pitch and his price tag, around €15m, is at the centre of negotiations. The shift in focus towards Lo Celso directly affects Riquelme's future.
With Roma's interest in Lo Celso, Riquelme's exit from Atletico Madrid has become more complicated. If Roma sign Lo Celso, they are likely to stop negotiations for Riquelme. This means that the young extrem could stay at Atletico Madrid.
Consequences for Atlético de Madrid and Riquelme
Rodrigo Riquelme is considering leaving Atlético de Madrid because he has not yet established himself in the team. Samuel Lino has beaten him to the right-back position and minutes are very expensive up front. With Griezmann and the arrivals of Julián Alvarez and Sorloth, the Spaniard sees it as almost impossible to have opportunities in those positions.
If Roma finally opt for Lo Celso, everything indicates that Rodrigo Riquelme will stay at Atlético Madrid. The Italians know that the Argentine is cheaper than Roro, but also that the Spaniard is much younger. In the next few days everything will be decided and we will know if the Atlético youth player stays for another year or decides to embark on a new adventure.