Atlético Madrid remain a work in progress after disappointing season opener

Atlético Madrid kicked off their 2024/25 La Liga campaign with a disappointing draw away at Villarreal. It was a rude awakening after the club’s celebrated acquisitions in the transfer market with Robin Le Normand, Alexander Sørloth and Julián Alvarez all featuring, but the performance and result made it clear that the Rojiblancos have not completely addressed the problems of the previous year.

Diego Simeone’s squad “renewal” has seen the club spend nearly €200 million already, with Conor Gallagher the latest recruit. While these are all important signings, Atlético still have some way to go. Monday night’s game exposed their defensive and build-up woes and resurfaced some nagging questions about their transfer strategy.

It is not fair to say that the club has not invested heavily enough to back Cholo this summer, and this rebuild has been far from an easy task. The departure of key figures in Álvaro Morata, Memphis Depay, Stefan Savić and Mario Hermoso, coupled with an aging midfield, meant that this window had to cover all positions. Moreover, the incomings needed to have a direct impact on the modern Atlético, allowing Simeone to complete the tactical transition and take this side forward with the newer, more controlled style of play.

However, despite doing a commendable job in attack and midfield, the Rojiblancos have failed to prioritize their backline, and this oversight looks like it could cost them through the season.

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Axel Witsel and César Azpilicueta joined Le Normand in central defense against Villarreal and, at 35 years each, the pair are the two oldest members of the squad. Reinildo and José María Giménez are the only other recognized center-back options; the former turns 31 while the latter turns 30 at the start of next year. With Atlético now expected to play higher and have their defenders cover more ground while influencing their possession play, this does not bode well for their chances.

Early rumors seemed to indicate that the defense was a priority, with links to David Hancko and Aymeric Laporte, but the stagnation of these deals is a cause for worry, especially after the Artem Dovbyk saga earlier in the window. Hancko’s deal was expected to be wrapped up by now, especially with personal terms not being an issue owing to the player’s keen interest in joining the club, yet there is still massive doubt surrounding a transfer for the 26-year-old.

You would think that €35 million is a reasonable price for Hancko, and that Atleti should have no problem meeting Feyenoord’s demands for the versatile defender. But the longer this has progressed, the further apart the clubs seem to be.

There could still be a resolution to the Hancko situation by the end of the window, with the Slovakia international reportedly putting significant pressure on Feyenoord to let him leave for Atlético. And Monday’s performance certainly leaves fans with the feeling that the Rojiblancos may still be a player short in defense.

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Whether promising youngster Ilias Kostis can make the step up and fill that role as the left-sided center-back remains to be seen, but Atleti have to hope that they will sort out their problems at the back as soon as possible. Otherwise, the Villarreal game could become the template for another tough season.