Atlético de Madrid is experiencing a delicate situation with one of its most expensive signings in recent years: Thomas Lemar. The French midfielder arrived at the red-and-white club in 2018 with a star reputation and a market value of 70 million euros. However, his performance in recent years has been far below expectations, and now his value has plummeted to around 10 million. What was expected to be a star signing has ended up becoming a problem for the club.
A signing with great expectations
When Lemar arrived in Madrid, he did so after shining at AS Monaco, where he was a key part of the team that reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. Expectations were extremely high. Atlético's fans and board trusted that the Frenchman would be the player who would bring balance, speed and creativity to the attack. Diego Simeone also saw him as a key element in his system.
But the reality was very different. Lemar never managed to fully adapt to Atlético's style of play, and his performances faded as the seasons went by. Although he has had some flashes of quality, these have been insufficient to justify the high price the club paid for him.
The collapse of its value
Over the years, Lemar's market value has plummeted. From the 70 million euros that Atlético paid for him, his price is now estimated at just 10 million. This represents a considerable loss for the club, which has tried by all means to find a way out for him during the past summer. However, no team has shown any real interest in securing the midfielder's services.
This drop in his value reflects not only his poor performance, but also the lack of continuity and confidence he has had in the team. Simeone, who was once one of his greatest defenders, has stopped counting on him on a regular basis.
A problem for Atletico Madrid
The fact that they were unable to sell Lemar in the last transfer window has created a problem for Atlético Madrid. The player still occupies a place in the squad, but is not part of the coaching staff's plans. This not only affects the team's dynamic, but also the club's finances.