New stadium, old challenge for shackled Atletico

MADRID: For an off-season that began by losing an appeal against a one-year transfer ban, Atletico Madrid have emerged impressively unscathed as they welcome in a new era by moving to the newly built Wanda Metropolitano.

The challenge for a club revolutionised since Diego Simeone took charge nearly six years ago remains a daunting one.

Despite Atletico’s significant financial growth off the field in recent years, their budget still lags hundreds of millions of euros behind their competitors for domestic and Champions League honours in Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Since stunning Real and Barca to win La Liga in 2013-14, Atletico have finished third for the past three seasons, but were 15 points behind champions Real last season.

However, it is a sign of Atletico’s progress that having to rebuild every summer after cashing in on their best players is now a thing of the past.

Antoine Griezmann, Atletico’s top scorer for the past three seasons, resisted the advances of Manchester United to commit his immediate future to the club in June.

And in a major coup in-demand midfielder Saul Niguez also signed a nine-year contract extension after a starring role for Spain in the Under-21 European Championship.

“The club have made an important effort to maintain the players that the best teams in the world want,” said Simeone.

Holding onto their best players was more important than ever as Atletico can’t register new signings until January.

Atletico’s ban also hasn’t prevented them from strengthening for the upcoming season.

Spanish international winger Vitolo will join in the new year following six months on loan at Las Palmas after Atletico paid his €37.5mil (RM185mil) buyout clause to release him from Sevilla. — AFP