Atlético de Madrid had a summer transfer window in which they were linked with a large number of players, especially defenders. One of the players that the sporting management likes the most will visit the Metropolitano tonight in the Valencia shirt. It is Cristhian Mosquera, a 20-year-old footballer who is undisputed for Rubén Baraja and a regular in the Spanish U-21 team.
During the summer, he was one of the options for the red-and-white team to reinforce the backline after Stefan Savic left for Turkey . Although the chosen one ended up being Robin Le Normand , the colchoneros still have the name of Cristhian Mosquera on the table. In fact, as revealed by the newspaper As, there were two offers for the Spanish centre-back that ended up being rejected by Peter Lim .
Simeone examines Cristian Mosquera
The red-and-white defence will continue to undergo changes over the next few years, requiring a complete regeneration. The sporting management did a good job in the summer transfer market, securing the necessary exits and signing key players. For example, Robin Le Normand has been one of the best in the squad at the start of the season, being an undisputed starter in the plans of the Argentine Diego Pablo Simeone.
However, the Metropolitano offices are still keeping a close eye on the situation of Cristhian Mosquera , who returns to the red-and-white team today. The Spanish defender is already a key player for Rubén Baraja and was close to landing in the Spanish capital this year. The club made two offers to Valencia , one for 22 million euros fixed and another for 20, both of which could reach 25 million with bonuses, which Peter Lim rejected.
However, the Valencian team has set the price of their defender at 25 million, without including possible variables. It is not an unreasonable figure for a player with such potential as Cristhian Mosquera , who is a great option for the future. In addition, it must be taken into account that Axel Witsel is losing a lot of prominence and could leave as a free agent in 2025.
A different season for Axel Witsel
The Belgian was one of the best performers last season, being the best defender in the squad by far. In fact, it was impossible to imagine an Atlético de Madrid without Axel Witsel as a starter, who ended up renewing his contract for another year. However, he has lost a lot of importance this season, especially after the arrival of Robin Le Normand and the good level of Josema Giménez .
In this context, it would not be surprising if he ends up leaving as a free agent next summer and freeing up a place in defence. It was Simeone who converted him into a centre-back, despite the fact that he has played his entire career as a midfielder, something that was not easy at first. Looking ahead to next season, everything points to finding a replacement for Axel Witsel being one of the main tasks in the sporting planning.