Alexander Sorloth is preparing for one of the most exciting moments of his career: his official debut with Atlético de Madrid . Curiously, he will do so facing his former team, Villarreal, at the Estadio de La Cerámica. The Norwegian striker arrives at Simeone's team with the mission of repeating the success he had last season with the Yellow Submarine. Despite having only been at Villarreal for a year, Sorloth left an indelible mark, even coming close to being the top scorer in LaLiga.
Sorloth 's signing for Atlético de Madrid was not a simple operation. Villarreal, who acquired him for eight million euros, managed to close his transfer to Atlético for 32 million plus variables. This move has generated great expectations among the red-and-white fans, who hope that the striker will repeat his goalscoring performance at the Metropolitano.
Sorloth's statement before the premiere
Before facing his former team, Sorloth launched a message that has caught the attention of both fans and the media. "I told my agent and my family before coming to Spain that I hoped to score enough goals to be able to play for Atlético," confessed the striker. For him, joining Atlético de Madrid is the culmination of a dream, something he had always wanted since his arrival in LaLiga.
Sorloth, who has also played in leagues such as the Eredivisie, Premier League, Jupiler Pro League and Bundesliga, knows that his time at Atlético will be a bigger challenge. Despite the pressure, the Norwegian feels motivated: "I put the pressure on myself. We can talk about numbers, but the pressure I put on myself is the most important thing."
Simeone's trust in Sorloth
Diego Simeone has made clear what he expects from Alexander Sorloth at Atletico Madrid. The Argentine coach knows he has a striker with extraordinary goalscoring ability on his hands, but he also understands that his team must adjust to make the most of his abilities. "Sorloth is a strong striker, who plays in the box, and has extraordinary numbers, we have to supply him," said Simeone.
Cholo's plan is clear: feed Sorloth with balls inside the box, where the striker can do damage with his physicality and ability to finish with his back to goal. Simeone is confident that his team can adapt to this style of play, using the counterattack when necessary, but always with the aim of taking advantage of the Norwegian's virtues. For the coach, Sorloth has everything necessary to be a success at Atlético Madrid, as long as the team works together to create the opportunities it needs.
Sorloth's first big challenge as an Atlético player comes against his former team, Villarreal. Facing the team where he shone last season adds a layer of excitement to his debut.