Arthur Vermeeren, the young Belgian midfielder, has offered an honest perspective on his brief time at Atletico Madrid and his new stage at RB Leipzig. Vermeeren’s loan to Leipzig has been one of the most talked-about moves in the recent transfer market. His statement on his time at Atletico reveals his views about his past experience and his expectations for the future.
The loan to Leipzig
On 26 August, Atlético de Madrid completed the loan of Arthur Vermeeren to RB Leipzig. The deal includes a clause that obliges Leipzig to buy the player for €20 million if he meets certain participation requirements. This move reflects Leipzig's confidence in Vermeeren's potential, despite his limited experience at Atlético.
Vermeeren, who joined Atlético in the previous winter transfer window from Antwerp for around 25 million euros, had a minimal involvement in the first team. In the five games in which he was available to Diego Simeone, he only played 61 minutes, spread over two games as a starter. This lack of minutes reflected the young Belgian's difficulties in adapting to Atlético's style of play.
Reflections on his time at Atlético
Despite his limited involvement, Vermeeren does not consider his time at Atlético to be a mistake. In a recent interview with RB Leipzig, the midfielder said that his experience at the red-and-white club was positive. "I don't see my time there as a mistake. I learned a lot, made new friends and grew as a person there," he said.
Vermeeren is excited about his new stage at RB Leipzig. At his new team, the midfielder feels he is in the right place to continue his development. "I'm very impressed, it's a wonderful club and everything is going well so far, I'm happy to be here," he said.
Preparing to face Atlético
With his knowledge of Atletico's style of play, Vermeeren could offer Leipzig a strategic advantage in their upcoming clash. "Of course, I know the style of play and maybe I can tell the coach a little bit about how they will perform against us," he noted. His previous experience at Atletico could be valuable to his new team in the upcoming match against his former club.
Vermeeren is keen to make the most of his opportunity at Leipzig. "I hope I can learn as much as possible here. I just want to play as much football as I can because that's what I like to do the most," he said. With a mix of youth and experience in the squad, the Belgian is confident this season will be an important stage in his career.