The defense remains one of the pending issues for Atlético de Madrid ahead of the next summer transfer market, with many tasks at hand. There are players who will certainly leave the squad and will need quality replacements to maintain the competitive level of the red-and-white team. However, the right flank will also be an important focus for the sports management, as they will seek a new reinforcement.
Nahuel Molina is being a good competitor for Marcos Llorente in that position, although the Spaniard has performed better this season. The intention would be to place him definitively in the winger position and for the Argentine to receive a new rival this summer. At the Metropolitano, they are closely following a player who has been standing out all season and was highly praised during the last Euro Cup.
Luxury Signing for Simeone
To see the best competitive side of Atlético de Madrid, it is essential to have a defense that is secure and can win matches. This is something that has been recovered this season, being the least scored against team in the five major leagues after conceding 16 goals in the domestic championship. Even so, it will be one of the strong points in the summer market, with a footballer who is performing at a high level in Spain on the agenda.
This is Ratiu, a right-back from Rayo Vallecano whose release clause is 25 million euros, and there are already major clubs pushing for his signing. He was one of the most outstanding with the Romania national team during the Euro Cup and recently scored a great goal in the draw against Sevilla. His name started to gain strength from the draw between Vallecanos and Colchoneros at the beginning of this season, but he has continued growing.
Competition for Nahuel Molina
The situation of the world champion has always been somewhat unstable, as he has usually alternated good matches with moments where he couldn't find his place. He has even been at the center of all the criticism on multiple occasions, but he has been able to turn the situation around in recent months. The victory against PSG was his turning point to present a challenge to Marcos Llorente and start gaining more prominence in the defense.
A signing like Ratiu would be perfect for the former Udinese player not to relax and for Marcos Llorente to definitively occupy the right-wing position. All of them are very offensive pieces that would bring a lot of power and physicality to Atlético de Madrid on the right flank, something very necessary. Other destinations like Arsenal, Roma, or Juventus of Turin are also monitoring the Romanian, although 50% of his rights still belong to Villarreal.