Jose Gimenez is not a happy chappy with Atletico Madrid, according to Monday’s edition of Mundo Deportivo. A regular starter last season in both La Liga and the Champions League, Gimenez was apparently left shocked when omitted from the latter competition’s final starting line-up in favour of Stefan Savic.
Mundo Deportivo say Gimenez ‘feels bad, very bad’ and still hasn’t got over it. Despite the club feeling the 21 year old is a hugely important part of their future, Gimenez feels something isn’t quite right.
This feeling has festered so much that the newspaper say Gimenez is considering an Atletico exit this summer. The club said to be most interest is Real Madrid, and Atletico would demand the player’s full €65m clause to allow a transfer.
In reality they may let him go for less, and if Real Madrid do offload Raphael Varane then a move would make some sense.
It’s not only Madrid who have been keen on Gimenez. Mundo Deportivo claim Arsenal last year submitted an offer of €25m, which was always likely to be unsuccessful. If the Gimenez sulk continues, and Madrid stick rather than twisting, then it may well be worth trying again.
A higher price would be necessary, but perhaps the claim Atletico would only take €65m is a little lofty, especially with a supposedly unhappy player.
At central defence, Arsenal currently have 31 year old Per Mertesacker, 30 year old Laurent Koscielny, 25 year old Gabriel Paulista, and 21 year old Calum Chambers. It’s a good mix, especially when it’s considered Nacho Monreal and Carl Jenkinson can play there too.
However, Gimenez has proven his quality and is one of the best young central defenders in European football. The Uruguayan would undoubtedly be a good addition for almost every squad, but if he’s so frustrated at missing one, albeit it very important, Atletico Madrid match then moving somewhere with such competition may not be best advised.
