The departure operation at Atlético de Madrid is still underway, and several players have already headed for the exit this January. The first was Arthur Vermeeren, who has already played the matches stipulated in his loan contract to become a permanent player for Leipzig next season. The Belgian, despite joining the preseason early, didn't seem to fit into Simeone's plans, something that was confirmed in August.
However, it doesn't seem like he will be the only departure from the Atlético team, as the future of Thomas Lemar remains uncertain. The French player has a marginal role and has only accumulated minutes in three matches due to the muscle injuries he has suffered over the past few months. Meanwhile, beyond what happens with the world champion, there is another young prospect who hasn't managed to adapt to the red-and-white team and is now part of its history.
Another Sale at Atlético de Madrid
At the Metropolitano, they want to continue with the roadmap established last summer, when deals that seemed almost impossible were closed. Significant arrivals like Julián Alvarez and Conor Gallagher coincided with the departures of key players such as Stefan Savic, Mario Hermoso, and Saúl Ñíguez. This planning is intended to be maintained this year, especially concerning the summer market, a decisive moment for the Atlético club.
This winter market, although featuring few movements, has allowed the departures of some players who didn't have a place with Simeone. The first is Arthur Vermeeren, who arrived last January 2024 and was transferred to Leipzig, where he is having much more prominence in the midfield. The other departure has been Marcos Paulo, a Brazilian talent who arrived in 2021 and whose career will continue in Brazil after signing with Boavista SC.
Failure at the Metropolitano
The winger arrived as a free agent after not renewing with Fluminense and being one of the gems of the Brasileirao, generating much excitement at the club. However, he didn't take advantage of any of his loans in Europe, returning to his country to wear the São Paulo jersey for a few months. He tore his cruciate ligament and tried his luck at Molenbeek in Belgium, but he wasn't able to find his best form there either.
Now, Boavista SC has announced his signing until 2028, and he is in the midst of celebrating the Campeonato Carioca. There, he joins great clubs like Flamengo, Botafogo, and Fluminense, all of them champions of America in recent years. His adventure in Europe has come to an end, and barring any surprises, it seems he won't return, at least for a long period of time.