News Focus
- Atletico Madrid plan to buy a new left-back during the summer transfer window.
- The Spanish club have identified Chelsea star Marc Cucurella as their top target.
- New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has told the defender he wants him to stay.
- Any transfer will likely wait until after the World Cup finishes.
Atletico Madrid are preparing for another expensive summer. This will be their third year of heavy spending in a row.
Diego Simeone needs to fix several problems in his team. The left-back position is the most urgent.
Matteo Ruggeri came from Atalanta last year. He has not played well regularly at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. There is no proper replacement except young player Julio Diaz. Because of this, Simeone often played David Hancko in the wrong position.
The club wants to avoid this problem next season. They have put a new left-back on their shopping list.
Sporting director Mateu Alemany has chosen his main target. He wants Marc Cucurella from Chelsea. Atletico think the Spanish defender is perfect for the starting role. However, Chelsea will not make the transfer simple.
Chelsea appointed Xabi Alonso as their new boss earlier this month. The former Real Madrid coach will take charge. Alonso will decide which players can leave.
According to MD, he has told Cucurella to stay at Stamford Bridge. The two Spaniards want to work together. The final choice will come after Alonso speaks with Cucurella. The manager hopes the defender stays in London.
But Alonso might change his mind if Cucurella says he wants to go back to Spain. We do not know the player’s wishes yet.
The situation will be interesting to watch this summer. However, nothing will happen before the World Cup. Cucurella will play an important role for Spain in that tournament.