Nicolas Otamendi to Atletico Madrid is a story which has built over the past few days.
The Argentine defender is thought to be seriously considering an exit because he’s not getting the minutes he wants.
Pep Guardiola has other options at Manchester City and that leaves Otamendi to pick up what he can get. There’s been a worry this could impact upon his standing with the Argentina national team, and the reasons are building up.
Friday’s edition of Marca talks up Diego Simeone’s desire for the player, and then talks down the likelihood of it happening.
The Spanish newspaper go with a headline saying Simeone has asked for the ‘impossible’… the Manchester City defender.
He’s been a long term fan, and with Atletico needing to bring in a couple of central defenders this summer, Otamendi’s name comes back into focus.
Felipe is set to arrive from FC Porto for €25m, and another man is needed.
The Atleti manager has told Andrea Berta, the club’s sporting director, that he wants the City player, but Marca say it’s ‘almost impossible’.
That’s because the player’s salary in Manchester is simply deemed unreachable. Huge contracts handed out to players including Antoine Greizmann, and the manager himself, are creating a problem in Madrid.
‘It is, how it was’ say Marca, with Simeone having wanted Otamendi on several occasions in the past, only to miss out.
Because of all of that, no effort has been made whatsoever on the potential signing.
Even if they sold Rodri, it’s not going to bring the wage bill down much. That said, he’s going to want a rise this summer, which is another Atleti problem.
