Can Atletico Madrid Compete for La Liga?
Atlético de Madrid finished third in La Liga and couldn’t escape the group stages in the FIFA Club World Cup. Diego Simeone’s side were in the title race for a lot of the year but finished third in Spain and were eliminated in the Round of 16 in the Champions League. It is crucial that Atlético win trophies soon; they have star players aging and a young star in Julián Álvarez, who could be pressured to leave if he doesn’t see silverware soon. This summer, they’ve been reported to have signed Matteo Ruggeri from Atalanta, Álex Baena from Villareal, and Johnny Cardoso from Real Betis. Atlético has long been seen as Spain’s third team, lacking the glory of Real Madrid and Barcelona. This year, they’re on the right track to capture their 12th La Liga title.
Atlético’s recent signings have seen their squad become younger. Last summer, none of the players they bought were over 28. Cardoso, Baena, and Ruggeri are all younger than 24. These signings show the project Atlético is building. The team is competitive now, but if all goes well, they’ll have a core of quality players in their primes. Their recent transfer windows have also been pricey. They spent more than Real Madrid and Barcelona combined last summer on transfer fees, paying almost 200 million euros. Their three reported signings this summer will cost around 100 million euros. Atleti’s recent aggression in the market further demonstrates the confidence they have in their project to dethrone Barca and Real Madrid, as their spending has increased significantly in the last two years.
Atlético’s recent signings have also let their squad become more dynamic. Ruggeri presents a better attacking option than Reinildo Mandava, and whether Baena plays out wide or centrally, he’s a much more prolific attacker than what Los Rojiblancos had last season. Defense is usually not the problem for Simeone's team, as they have only conceded more than two goals twice all year in La Liga. However, in the 16 games they dropped points, they scored more than once only two times. Atlético also lost twice to relegated teams, which simply cannot happen if they want to win the title. This team doesn’t get dominated offensively, and acquiring the pieces to create more attacking chances will help balance this team out. Becoming a more attacking team also takes stress off their defense, as a better offense can also make a better defense.
Atlético have been aggressive spenders, opting for younger and more attacking players. They were in the La Liga title race for a while and only lost one league match in games against Barca or Real Madrid. Atlético have shown they can compete with the Spanish giants, but they need another gear to outlast them for a full season, with both teams also improving their squads. With their offseason just beginning, their spending likely won’t stop soon, as they are confident they can win their first league title since 2021.
