How will Atletico Madrid fare in their new era?

No Griezmann, no problem for Atletico

Antoine Griezmann of Club Atletico de Madrid holds his daughter Mia during the La Liga match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Sevilla FC at Wanda Metropolitano on May 12, 2019 in Madrid, Spain.

(May 11, 2019 - Source: Getty Images Europe)

Atletico Madrid is firmly into a new era after long-time Los Rojiblancos talisman, Antoine Griezmann vacated the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium for Camp Nou in a wholesome €120 million deal. Atletico would have preferred to hold on to Griezmann, who has been the club’s top scorer for 5 years. The club's strong disapproval of the secret negotiations that the Frenchman had with Barcelona before sharing his imminent departure with his employers vividly communicated their stance. However, the move was an inevitable one and long time coming as the world cup winner had already expressed his intentions to move in 2018. Besides Griezzy, Atleti have also unpacked crucial players during the transfer window that include Rodri, Lucas Hernandez and veteran defenders, Diego Godin, Juanfran and left-back player Filipe Luis. It all marks the end to an entirely different era, one that was Atleti's most successful spell led by Diego Simeone. The voids left by the departures will not be an easy task to fill but who better to take a stab at it other than the Diego Simeone.

As so often happens when a key player leaves a club, it becomes a challenge to find a player who can fill in the monumental role that they played, case in point, arch-rivals Real Madrid and Ronaldo. Atletico Madrid would then presumably struggle to replace the Frenchman and other players who have been instrumental in Atletico's success in recent seasons. However, Los Rojiblancos need to prove that the contrary is true, that the future post-Griezmann Atletico would be promising and that new players can rise to the occasion to continue the standards that Simeone has wonderfully set for himself. A tough ask, perhaps, but new signings are looking the real deal having already bolstered Atletico's confidence who could actually be ready for their first La Liga title since the remarkable 2013/14 triumph. Despite the odds, Atleti's newfound confidence looks to drive the campaign this season. Their performance in the first three games of the season shows that Atletico is hungry for a La Liga title. Exciting times lie ahead for Atletico Madrid as they launch their post-Griezmann title chase.

Joao Felix of Portugal in action during the UEFA Nations League Semi-Final match between Portugal and Switzerland at Estadio do Dragao on June 05, 2019 in Porto, Portugal.

(June 4, 2019 - Source: Getty Images Europe)

Joao Felix, the embodiment of Atleti’s new era

When you lose your crucial striker and highest goal scorer for the last five seasons, the struggle to find an equally good player that would seamlessly fit into the position in the present market, would be real. For a fee of €126 million, Joao Felix has proved to be a brilliant substitute for Griezmann in the attack. The young attacking midfielder is a creative and powerful forward, and there are few players in Europe today who have the potential to change the fortunes of an entire team more than Atletico's record signing João Félix. The Portuguese teenage sensation is of a calibre of his own with tremendous talent and ambition, who has been touted by former Uruguayan striker Diego Forlan, that he could help Atletico lift the title this season, while some think he's a future Balon d'Or winner. It's not far fetched to think that he holds the key for Atletico. In his breakout season at his former club, Benfica; he was vital in securing the Portuguese title, scoring 15 goals and served up 11 assists in 21 games. On the hunt for an attacking forward this summer, Atletico put up a cool €126 million; the biggest spend in Atletico history for the teenage sensation. It is a sign that Atletico is looking to invest in the future, rebuilding for a new era with a young player, one with more silverware. He is the perfect fit for the new look Atletico that Diego Simeone is building and central to this would be to develop the talented teenager's abilities that will carry Atletico forward. 

Diego Simeone believes that the greatest quality that Joao Felix has is the quick adaptation and versatility added to that, a strong desire to become better. Watching him play, deciphers why Los Rojiblancos would choose to break the piggy bank for this phenomenal talent. At just 19 years old, he has enough talent that shows potential to become the best in Europe. The move has also benefitted the young player as he tries to make a name for himself. In pre-season he scored three goals in 5 matches and had 4 assists, a more than impressive start.

 Are Atletico ready to be crowned champions?

Diego Simeone's squad is showing early signs of title form, posting three wins in three. It is more significant that while Los Rojiblancos have a solid footing this season, rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid have struggled to swoop their first three matches. Real Madrid are still battling with the departure of Ronaldo and despite purchasing an amazing arsenal of players coming into the season including Chelsea top man, Eden Hazard, they have not gotten into a recognizable dominant form. Atletico have also finished above their Madrid neighbors in the last two seasons coming into this new campaign. Public scuffles between Real boss Gareth Bale and injuries that have sidelined Hazard, Eder Militao, Rodrygo signal troubling time for people's champion, Zinadine Zidane. In the first three matches, Atletico have looked sharper and more organized than the squad at Bernabeau.

 Similar sluggish start for Barcelona has strengthened a title contention for last season’s runner ups. If not, there are still many opportunities for Atletico to grow, managing to push past Barcelona. Atletico looks like a more organized and confident side going into this season. The last time Atletico posted a perfect start as they have this season, was in their near-perfect title chase in 2013/14.

Assessing Los Rojiblanco's current squad

As a unit, Atletico is a solid squad that is youthful with some experienced players in the line-up such as Diego Costa. The Spaniard will lead in front alongside Alvaro Morata and Joao Felix. Costa’s performances, instinct and aggression are a set of skills that can make him highly influential for Atleti if the 30-year old were to perform at his highest this season. Alvaro who is on loan from Chelsea until 2020, where the plan is for him to sign on to the Los Rojiblancos permanently also completes a trio that has the potential to cause havoc in Spain and Europe once the UCL starts.

Diego Godin of Atletico Madrid chats with Diego Simeone, manager of Atletico Madrid after Godin's last home match for the club at the end of the La Liga match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Sevilla FC at Wanda Metropolitano on May 12, 2019 in Madrid, Spain.

(May 11, 2019 - Source:/Getty Images Europe)

Simeone’s men also have a lot of talent to work with in the midfield, with the signing of Marcos Llorente from Real Madrid and Hector Herrera who will bring creativity. Ghanaian international, Thomas Partey who scored a crucial goal against Eibar in their third league match will become increasingly important after the departure of Rodri, proving more and more that he is a critical figure in the centre of the park.

Alteti are looking very different at the back this season, owing to the departures of Juanfran, Diego Godin and Filipe Luis. Simeone brought in Spanish defender Mario Hermoso from Espanyol for a €25 million fee to join the duo of Stefan Savić and Jose Giménez in central defence. Hermoso will play a vital role in the strengthening Atletico's defence while, former Tottenham right-back Kieran Trippier hopes to revive his title-winning ambitions on the continent.

 Conclusion

Atletico might be entering into a new era in their club history, but there they come into it blazing and ready to rise to the occasion. The player to watch is undoubtedly Joao Felix, the name that is buzzing in Madrid at this moment, the biggest reason for this newfound excitement and interest in what Atletico has to offer. The talented teen is set to reach peak form at the club where Simeone will develop and finesse his skills. The future for Atletico looks young, focused, ambitious and ready to dominate Spain.

 What do you think could be the biggest roadblock for Atleti this season?

“Diego Simeone believes that the greatest quality that Joao Felix has is the quick adaptation and versatility added to that, a strong desire to become better. Watching him play, deciphers why Los Rojiblancos would choose to break the piggy bank for this phenomenal talent.”

— Margaret Mandeya, FirstTouch Africa

Bale in limbo upon Zidane's return to the Real Madrid touchline

When Zidane returned to the touchline last Saturday, the fans received him with mixed feelings. The welcome was good, but of course, it could have been great. Many fans are not convinced he deserves all the credit for Real Madrid’s three consecutive title triumphs or whether Ronaldo had done all by himself. The fans have all the luxury to be casually uncertain about him, but as for Bale, the stakes are much higher for him. Coming from a history of being left out of the coach’s most preferred list, what does Zizou’s return really mean for him?

Gareth Bale of Real Madrid looks on during the La Liga m atch between Real Madrid CF and Levante UD at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 20, 2018 in Madrid, Spain.

(Oct. 19, 2018 - Source: Denis Doyle/Getty Images Europe)

He might just leave

Zidane has expressed interest to sell the player or at least swap him for Chelsea’s Eden Hazard. According to him, Bale has so much potential that is only encouragement and passion away from being fully realised. Unfortunately, he is not the man to do that for him. The player’s agent said he is willing to be at the club for the rest of his career, but someone’s stay is only worth it while they are still needed. If the coach feels like he might be better off somewhere else, maybe that is what might just happen. This move has also been fuelled by critics who believe that Real Madrid generally, is not the best place for him to shine at, as he is the type of player that requires a lot of space on the pitch to shine. However, the team does not play like that. It uses a very close-knit kind of style. The challenge, however, is how expensive the player will be for other clubs. At this point in his career, not many teams can afford to pay “75m euros for him and the 12m euros net he is earning at the moment”.

They might all grow together

Upon his return, Zidane was quoted saying he will not talk about the player in isolation, because he is “counting on him like everyone else”. He says his eyes are fixed on the matches ahead and finishing the season strong. This might mean that he is willing to invest in players’ (even Bale) growth to make this possible. This means all past biases might be put aside for the bigger goal ahead of them. Even though many think that Zidane’s return spells doom for Bale, they might just be up for a great shock. He assured everyone that “Gareth, you all know what type of player he is, someone I will use just like everybody else. I'm going to end up repeating myself a lot. We are prepared for tomorrow and Gareth is ready for it too," said Zidane. As luck would have it, the 29-year-old Welshman ended up scoring in Zidane’s return debut, in Madrid’s 2-0 win over Celta Vigo.

Zidane just returned and drawing a conclusion of what this means for Bale might be a bit too early. It could just go sour until they part ways or this might just be the time when they work so well that the past becomes nothing, but a growth curve. Let us step back and see what the remaining 10 games have in store.

African Stars: Pick of the weekend's action

Gerard Pique of FC Barcelona duels for the ball with Youssef En-Nesyri of Malaga during the La Liga match between Malaga and Barcelona at Estadio La Rosaleda on March 10, 2018 in Malaga, spain.

(March 9, 2018 - Source: Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images Europe)

The weekend came and didn’t disappoint. From the mauling of Chelsea by Pep’s 6-star Manchester City, a dramatic Soweto derby stalemate and Benfica’s historic 10-0 dismantling of Nacional - it’s fair to say we were thoroughly entertained. Even more interesting is the growing number of African footballers grabbing headlines and superheroing the show for their sides. Here are the selected highlights involving such players.

En-Nesyri scores the first La Liga hatrick for Leganes

The 21-year-old Moroccan was perhaps the biggest winner of the weekend as he led Leganes to a 3-0 victory over sixth placed Real Betis. Youssef En-Nesyri made it 2-0 at the halfway mark of the match before adding a third after the restart, becoming the first ever player to score a Spanish La Liga hatrick in the club’s history. The youngster has since scored 7 times in his last 5 league matches for the side and is fast becoming a priceless gift for both club and country. It’s becoming clear that his 2018 FIFA world cup substitute strike in Lions of the Atlas’ 2-2 draw against Spain was not a fluke, he may be that goal getter that the North African country has been in need of. It’s actually turning out to be an interesting build up to the June 2019 AFCON finals.

Liverpool’s realise their African dream

Fans during the Carling Black Label Champion Cup match between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on July 29, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa. At least two people have been reported to have been killed and several injured in a crush during the game at South Africa's biggest stadium.

(July 28, 2017 - Source: Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)

Jurgen Klopp’s title chasing Liverpool regained top spot in the premier league for at least a few hours before Manchester City’s “rude” bashing of Chelsea and all of Matip, Keita, Mane and Salah made a telling contribution to the result. Cameroonian defender, Joel Matip partnered with the Reds’ chief of defence, Virgil Van Dijk to deliver yet another clean sheet, a league high of 14 for the Merseysiders. Naby Keita was central to a renewed Liverpool midfield which had been almost non-existent in recent weeks, holding onto the ball, sliding passes and going out at opponents in super sonic speed. The Guinea national team captain enjoyed his best game yet for Liverpool and is starting to justify the price attached to his services. As for the forwards, Mane headed Liverpool ahead in the 24th minute for his 12th premier league goal of the season, making it 4 consecutive league goals for the first time in the Senegalese’s career. The Egyptian king wrapped up the scoring in the 48th minute, adding to Gini Wijnaldum’s cool finish and making it 3 goals and 3 points for Liverpool on the day.

Soweto still belongs to The Ghost

Sol Bamba of Cardiff City wins a header over Denis Odoi of Fulham during the Premier League match between Cardiff City and Fulham FC at Cardiff City Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Cardiff, United Kingdom.

(Oct. 19, 2018 - Source: Michael Steele/Getty Images Europe)

One of the most anticipated club football matches on the continent ended in a 1-1 stalemate as Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs gave in everything to claim bragging rights over Johannesburg’s Soweto township. For Chiefs in particular, it sure tasted like a defeat as they are yet to beat the Buccaneers in the last 12 meetings between the two sides. Quite fairly, Amakhosi sure looked like the side with a score to settle as their troubled Amabhakabhaka in the opening stages, with Khama Billiat and Bernard Parker spearheading that attack.Their efforts were eventually rewarded in the 53rd minute as Billiat won a penalty which Daniel Cardoso calmly converted. They could have gotten a second moments later as Billiat latched onto a quick overhead pass, only for his effort to skew inches wide of the goal. As the long awaited victory seemed assured for the Lords, heartbreak came in the 80th minute as Thembinkosi Lorch was sent through on goal, expertly rounding off the goalkeeper to extend Pirates’ unbeaten run against their bitter rivals to a record 12.

Other matches

Nigerian international, Alex Iwobi was on the score sheet as Arsenal saw off relegation threatened, Huddersfield Town to keep their top four hopes alive. Senegal’s M’baye Niang also grabbed a goal for Rennes who beat St Etienne 3-0 to move within a point of the league’s top 4 teams. It was a night to forget for Achraf Hakimi and Dortmund who blew away a 3 nil lead with only 25 minutes to go as they finished 3-3 against Hoffenheim whose Algerian striker, Ishak Belfodil struck twice to secure a point for the visitors. Wilfried Zaha returned to the score sheet as he grabbed an equalizer for Crystal Palace’s 1-1 draw against West Ham and so did Ivory Coast’s Sol Bamba who added a goal for Cardiff as they sealed an emotional win since learning of the demise of Emiliano Sala.

FT Hidden Gems Series: Daddy-Ajala Moses Simon

Jan Vertonghen of Tottenham Hotspur holds off Moses Simon of Gent during the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 second leg match between Tottenham Hotspur and KAA Gent at Wembley Stadium on February 23, 2017 in London, United Kingdom.

(Feb. 22, 2017 - Source: Dan Mullan/Getty Images Europe)

It is that time again where we dive into those African talents that seldom meets the eye. Yes, we are talking about the FirstTouch Africa’s Hidden Gems. We profiled players like Adama Traore, Ademola Lookman, Tinotenda Kadewere, among others and we identified the attributes that make them unique. Africa still has a lot more to offer in with talents like these that are often overlooked by the limelight. As we continue with the series, we focus our attention on Moses Simon, the Nigerian forward who plays for Levante in the Spanish La Liga.

Last appearance

Moses Daddy-Ajala Simon was a 73rd minute substitute in Levante’s match against Sevilla at Estadi Ciutat de València on the 23rd of September, 2018. The home team fell to a disappointing 6-2 defeat in front of their own fans and the African player on the rise was nowhere to be found on the pitch. He was demoted to the bench and could also not help his team early on in the match in their last outing in the Spanish La Liga. However, his late cameo managed to add pressure to the Seville club as they claimed an own goal that was conceded by Kjaer. Initially, it was thought to be Daddy Simon’s goal as he shot from the left side of the box with his left foot but it was later announced that it was an own goal. His impact was too little too late for a comeback.

“Although he was adamant that he could play, the coaching staff decided to leave him out of the Nigerian squad as he was not 100% fit. That’s how the forward missed out on the action in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.”

— Tinotenda Magiya, FirstTouch Africa

Injuries

Moses Simon of Nigeria looks on during the International Friendly match between Nigeria and Senegal at The Hive on March 23, 2017 in Barnet, England.

(March 22, 2017 - Source: Dan Mullan/Getty Images Europe)

Levante’s match against Sevilla was Moses Simon’s debut for the season after he had picked up a hamstring injury back in August. This type of injury is common among pacy athletes and Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale is a prime example of a star player who struggled with these type of injuries since joining the club. The Nigerian international fought back to make it to the bench on Sunday before coming on for the club that just recently acquired him on a five-year deal from KAA Gent.

Furthermore, the Nigerian’s hopes of a world cup dream was dashed as he was ruled out of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia squad of the Super Eagles due to a hip injury. Although he was adamant that he could play, the coaching staff decided to leave him out of the Nigerian squad as he was not 100% fit. That's how the forward missed out on the action in the world cup that was eventually lifted by the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Paul Pogba, Samuel Umtiti and Benjamin Mendy.

Style of play

Although the 23-year old’s debut was enough to show that the African player is a goal threat,

17 minutes on the field of play were too brief to comprehend all his attributes. The pacy forward is aggressive in the final third which is probably the reason why Levante invested £4.5million to bring him to their club.

Also, Moses Simon can play as a stand in winger. Most African players playing in Europe have been deployed in various positions which aren't their best but they still do the job. Daddy is no different. He can play on either wings and his pace is a deadly threat. He however, has to compete with the likes of the resurged Iwobi and the newcomer, Ademola Lookman for a place in the starting lineup for his national side, the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

Final note

Previous links to transfer to the likes of Liverpool before the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia just shows why Moses is such a top quality player who could be on the move to a bigger club in the near future.