Nahuel Molina's situation at Atlético de Madrid has taken an unexpected turn with the return of Marcos Llorente to his best form. The Argentine, who was shaping up to be the undisputed starter on the right flank after his arrival, now finds himself at a crossroads. Llorente's great performance has led Simeone to consider him his first choice in that position, relegating Molina to the bench and putting his future at the club in doubt.
Marcos Llorente, key in Simeone's scheme
Atlético de Madrid have always sought solidity in defence without giving up on attack, and in Llorente Simeone has found the ideal wing-back to meet those demands. Llorente, who started the season as a right-back, has proven to be an extremely complete player, with great physical and tactical prowess. With two goals and one assist in just four games, Llorente has shown an ability to influence both the offensive and defensive aspects.
His speed, ability to recover the ball and his precision in joining the attack have been decisive for the Argentine coach to choose him instead of Nahuel Molina. This performance has led Simeone to use Llorente in a defence of three central defenders.
Nahuel Molina, without space in the starting eleven
When Nahuel Molina arrived at Atlético Madrid, he was thought to be the long-term solution for the right flank. However, the emergence of Llorente in that position has significantly limited his minutes on the pitch. Although Molina has shown quality, he has not been able to overcome the impressive form of Llorente, who seems to have made the right flank his own. The lack of minutes for Molina has started to raise doubts about his continuity in the team, as it does not seem that he will regain his place any time soon.
The fact that Molina has lost prominence so quickly has led to speculation about a possible exit in the next transfer window. If he fails to turn things around or find a place in Simeone's system, Atletico Madrid could consider selling him to free up space.
Possible sale of Nahuel Molina in January
Competition for a place at Atlético de Madrid is fierce, and if Molina fails to regain his place, a sale in the January market does not seem out of the question. European teams could be interested in acquiring the services of the Argentine full-back, who still has a great reputation on the continent. The Atlético board, with Gil Marín at the helm, would not be against a sale if Llorente continues to establish himself as the first-choice player in that position.