After Antoine Griezmann, now it’s Jan Oblak’s turn. The Slovenian goalkeeper’s superb performances during the final stretch of the season have made powerful clubs such as Manchester United think about him, even more so as the Premier League side are facing the possible departure of David de Gea. Yesterday (Saturday) they were clear at Atlético: “Oblak is not in the market, the team is being built around him and other footballers that are like him in the squad.”
The Slovenian goalkeeper enjoys the same status as two other pillars of the team in the short-term and medium-term future of the club: Koke and Griezmann. José María Giménez could also be included among that group. For Cholo they are untouchable and the club have no intention of negotiating transfers for any of them. It would be a different matter if they ask to leave, although in that case all suitors would be referred to the player’s buyout clause. A few days ago this newspaper reported of Bayern and Chelsea’s interest in the French forward and, as in that case, the buyout clause is also Oblak’s price-tag - €45m for the Slovenian.
Curiously, Oblak’s national team will face England today (Sunday), but he will be a substitute. From Atleti they insist that the gamble they took on the former Benfica man was made so that he could form part of the team for many years to come, and he is a necessary component to help consolidate a world-class squad. In 2011 the same was sought with Thibaut Courtois, but it was impossible to prise him away from Chelsea permanently. Atleti had to make do with having the Belgian on loan for three years, and his loss stung them. They now want to avoid making the same error and they invested what was necessary to sign a goalkeeper of the same profile, supplemented by the experience of Miguel Ángel Moyà. Yesterday (Saturday), the news of United’s interest in Oblak neither surprised nor caused concern.