The January transfer window is yet to officially open, but rumours circling Atlético Madrid are already plentiful.
One player has already left the club, and we can anticipate further outgoings and incomings,
particularly among strikers and defenders.
Into the Calderón are here to sum up everything that has happened so far in the first edition of the January transfer window round-up.
Raspadori saga without resolve (yet)
Having only arrived in Madrid in the summer just gone, Giacomo Raspadori looks to be on his way out of Atleti already. Or at least that’s what AS Roma are insisting. The Italian club are pushing to sign the forward, but are yet to come to an agreement with their Spanish counterparts — a step seen as crucial before any personal talks are held with the player.
Meanwhile, it’s business as usual for Raspadori himself, who trained “with normality” on Monday night at Atlético’s Cerro del Espino training ground. Behind the scenes, the two clubs are set to engage in further negotiations, with Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport indicating that Atleti want to hand him over “as soon as possible.”
As it stands, Roma’s offer is yet to meet the expectations of the Atleti board, who want to make back the money spent on him this summer, and who are ruling out the possibility of a loan deal.
In a highly anticipated “meeting” between Raspodori and manager Diego Simeone, a few words were exchanged on the training pitch, giving nothing away to the prying media watching from afar. It’s clear that Simeone hasn’t taken to Raspadori in the way the Italian would have liked, especially not in a season building up to a World Cup that Italy are still yet to qualify for. It wouldn’t be a matter of minutes to secure his place in the squad — Raspadori is a shoo-in for Gli Azzurri — but rather a chance to get in some sort of form to help his nation firstly qualify via March’s play-offs, and secondly not embarrass themselves in North and Central America, should they make it.
Left-back expected to arrive
It was the holiest of nights when Atlético de Madrid announced the departure of Javi Galán to CA Osasuna for half-a-million euros. The Spanish left-back has been on Atleti’s books for two-and-a-half years, arriving in the summer of 2023, but after loan at Real Sociedad and an unexpected thrust into first-team action last season, the 31-year-old leaves town with only 313 minutes played across all competitions this season.
An extra €500k will be sent Atlético’s way each time Galán plays a full season in Pamplona, which will go some way to recovering the €3.5 million spent on him.
Saying goodbye to Javichu opens the door for another left-back to come and push Matteo Ruggeri into Galán’s unwanted role at the bottom of the pecking order. Ruggeri isn’t the first Italian in this article to be mentioned in unfavourable terms from Simeone’s point of view, and it is understood that his manager wants him to spend more time growing from a less-prominent position within the squad.
In terms of possible arrivals, fans online have made it clear that they would like to see Bayer Leverkusen’s Alejandro Grimaldo sign. The 2024 European Championship winner was a target in the summer, but nothing materialised. Weak rumours suggest Los Rojiblancos are back in contact with the Spaniard, and that he has a reported €15 million clause in his contract for a “major” LALIGA side who want him.
These things are only to be believed when seen; it feels like a number of transfer windows have passed with Grimaldo’s name on the Atleti wishlist. Once a promising youngster of La Masia, he is now a 30-year-old looking to have his first real crack at playing in his home country. His quality would be a big addition, not least for his deliveries from the left side, as well as his expertise from dead-ball situations.
Another name to have popped up in recent hours is that of Vitinho, currently playing for Botafogo in Brazil. He won the English second division with Burnley before moving to his home country to be involved with the Botafogo side that won a historic Série A and Copa Libertadores double in 2024. Now with two national team caps under his belt, there have been suggestions from outlet Ge that Atleti and Everton have shown interest.
His price tag may be what is cuurently most attractive to Atlético, with reports suggesting Botafogo would only sell him for a minimum of €15 million. It would be more of a gamble than bringing in Grimaldo, who has assured himself in European football; plus, the last left-back that Atleti signed from Brazil was none other than Renan Lodi. Let’s hope Vitinho would be more Filipe Luis than Lodi should he make the move to the Spanish capital.
Other rumours
- Journalist Matteo Moretto said on his YouTube channel that Roma striker Artem Dobvyk was offered to Atlético, as part of or parallel to the negotiations for Raspadori. Those who remember the summer of 2024 will know that the Ukrainian snubbed Atleti, so will be happy to understand that the offer was rejected.
- Also through from Moretto is the news that Atlético have inquired about highly-rated Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi. Nothing more than an inquiry has been made, and the Argentine also has Barcelona and Juventus reportedly after him too.
- Conor Gallagher has once again been named as a potential player to leave the club, should an offer deemed as “interesting” arrive. Manchester United supposedly have the Englishman on the their shortlist, as Javi Gomara of Mundo Deportivo reports, but Atleti would only let him go for around €30 million. It’s understood that Gallagher is happy at Atleti, but that he’d like more playing time. Wouldn’t we all, Conor…
- Rayo Vallecano seem keen on a loan move for Carlos Martín. The right-sided Spaniard is yet to play a minute in the league, and only has one appearance in both the Copa del Rey and Champions League. It’s clear the boy needs to go out and play more football, and a short-term move to neighbours Rayo could be the solution that suits all parties involved. It’s now up to Atleti to decide.
- Finally, it wouldn’t be a transfer round-up without Alexander Sørloth being mentioned. The Norwegian striker is expected to stay put this winter, but a head-turning offer of around €40 million would change things.
