International break is upon us again, and we’re diving into some “what if” scenarios here at Into the Calderón. I’ve put together my personal list of what I’m calling “Atlético-Coded” footballers, and I’d
love to hear in the comments which ones you think I missed.
For those who aren’t familiar with the term (it’s me, I had to look up what coded actually meant), see the definition below. I consider an “Atleti-Coded player” to be someone with:
- extremely high work rate,
- an underdog mentality,
- a defensive mindset, and s
- someone who takes no nonsense from anyone
As an example, my archetypal Atleti-Coded player is probably Diego Costa. Let’s look at a few players in that realm who have not had the chance to suit up in the famed red and white stripes:
Jamie Vardy: So much Diego Costa in Jamie Vardy. From his relentless work rate and pressing ability to his instinctive knack for tracking back and winning loose balls, prime Vardy — the one who helped Leicester City buck all the odds and win the Premier League — was an obvious fit for Atleti, and someone who would have thrived under Diego Simeone. His underdog mentality, paired with a cheeky bit of attitude, would have made him a fan favorite among Atlético supporters.
Bonus points: the Englishman seems genuinely enamored with the electric atmosphere of an Atlético matchday. This was his Instagram post after his Leicester side played Atlético in a 2016/17 Champions League quarterfinal:
Though it seems his best days are behind him now at 38, Vardy is still an active player, having scored twice in seven games for Serie A club Cremonese this season. It may be in the realm of pure fantasy, but wouldn’t it be cool if Vardy had one final dance with Los Colchoneros?
Cristian “Cuti” Romero: Hopefully, Mateu Alemany has Romero as a main target for the upcoming transfer windows. Last summer, Atlético expressed interest, but negotiations with the Argentine never progressed.
Romero is a front-footed, aggressive central defender who excels at stepping out to intercept and engage attackers early. He’s elite in one-on-one duels, precise in his tackles, dominant in the air, confident on the ball, and armed with that no-nonsense attitude Simeone loves. He would be a dream signing for Atlético and a perfect fit for Simeone’s defense.
Mateu: if you’re reading this, let me know how I can help.
Emiliano Martínez: The Argentina goalkeeper was briefly linked with a potential move to Atlético last summer, but in the end, Dibu remained at Aston Villa. His passion, antics, mind games, and psychological pressure on opponents would make him an ideal Atleti player. One of his key strengths is his command of the penalty area, where he excels at claiming crosses and high balls, an area Atlético have struggled in this season.
Jan Oblak is an outstanding keeper and one of my favorite Atlético players of all-time, but if Alemany ever decides to make a change, Emiliano Martínez would be an instant fit.
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg: Twice rumored as the highly-anticipated pivot, Højbjerg checks nearly every box for the number five Simeone loves. He’s essentially a Scandinavian Gabi: steady, serious, relentless. Højbjerg has been lauded for his intimidation, physicality, and discipline; he’s not a flashy player, but Simeone’s defensive aces rarely are.
Johnny Cardoso remains very much unproven. Now 30 years old and one of the first names on Olympique Marseille’s team sheet, will Los Colchoneros be linked with the Danish midfielder again this summer?
Gavi: Barça fans, cover your eyes. While Højbjerg is a controller, Gavi is pure chaos: he hunts, harasses, and drives the game forward. He would serve as a relentless box-to-box number 8, the kind of player profile we have seen Conor Gallagher demonstrate at teams over the past two years. Mentally, he’s an absolute warrior; he fights for every ball and expertly closes down space, covers flanks, and wins 50/50s.
But injuries have hindered this young Spain international. Gavi missed 11 months with an ACL tear and is set to miss another five months with a meniscus injury in his right knee. Should the La Masia midfielder fall out of favor with the Catalan giants, could Atlético be ready to make a move?
Lautaro Martinez: A dynamic, high-energy striker with excellent movement, technical ability, and finishing instincts, Lautaro Martínez is a relentless presser who is clinical inside the box and capable of dropping deep to help build attacks. Nicknamed El Toro, Simeone has referred to Martinez as one of the best strikers in Europe, and El Cholo would undoubtedly welcome him with open arms. In fact, he nearly did eight years ago:
The only issue is the Argentine forward’s high valuation (€85 million, per Transfermarkt as of Oct.7). With the introduction of Apollo Sports Capital into Atlético’s finances, maybe a summer move for the Inter Milan captain can’t be fully ruled out? If only Los Rojiblancos had been able to close his signing in 2017…
Leo Messi: No explanation necessary, other than look how good he looks in red and white.
Who are your favorite Atleti-Coded players to never actually play for Atlético de Madrid?
