Atleti’s Fab Four

MADRID — In this latest installment of LSB’s Summer Transfer Series, we’ll review Atletico de Madrid’s blockbuster transfer window and how Diego Simeone’s four newest squad members will have Atletico rivaling Los Blancos for the La Liga crown this upcoming campaign.  

When the summer transfer window opened on July 1st, everyone already knew that Real Madrid had agreed to terms to sign Kylian Mbappe. As such, it seemed as though the rich were once again getting richer and that the rest of La Liga, rivals Barcelona and Atletico included, would be left in the dust for the foreseeable future. After all, Los Blancos is already coming off of a League / European Cup Double. A double in which, domestically, Real didn’t just win La Liga, the Madridistas won it by convincing 10 and 19 point margins ahead of Barça and Atleti, respectively. In addition, Real dispatched Manchester City for the second time in three years, as well as beating German giants Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and RB Leipzig in the knockout phase of the Champions League. 

So, when THAT team then goes out and acquires one of the world’s top talents in Mbappe, then assuredly all chances of a Spanish side other than Real Madrid wining La Liga is all but mute. But, as the great Lee Corso would say whilst pointing his pencil at the television monitor, “Not so fast my friend”. Real may in fact be a heavy favorite to win the Spanish top flight this year, but don’t underestimate the All Whites’ crosstown rivals, Atletico.

Without any fanfare, Simeone and his staff have put together the best collection of incoming talent of any team across Europe this off-season. The four standouts are: Robin Le Normand, Conor Gallagher, Alexander Sorløth, and Julian Alvarez. Below are brief bios on each player and collectively the subsequent reason why these men will get Atletico back into legitimate contention for winning La Liga. 

Robin Le Normand (CB)

French born and bread, Le Normand became naturalized as a Spanish citizen in May of 2023 after residing in the Iberian-based country for the past seven years. Just over a year on from naturalization, the former Real Sociadad central defender won the European Championship with Spain. Like most players that don’t feature for Spain’s top three clubs, Le Normand was overlooked by many across Europe despite his world class quality. 

Whilst playing for Sociedad, Le Normand helped guide La Real to a Copa del Rey title in 2020, the club’s first major title since 1987.  Then, in 2021 Le Normand became the first defender since Diego Godin (Atletico, 2014) to win La Liga Player of the Month. And now, he features as a starting member of Spain’s national team, and just completed this €34.5 million move to Atletico — €15.5 mil less, by the way, than Manchester United just paid for the out-of-form Matthijs de Ligt.

Alexander Sorløth (CF / ST)

Los Colchoneros’ second signing of note is Norway’s big bodied striker, no not Erling Haaland, rather it’s the lesser known Alexander Sorløth. According to ESPN, Atleti has recently purchased the Norwegian international from Villarreal for roughly €32 million. 

Similar to Le Normand, Sorløth debuted in La Liga for Real Sociedad. However, the Norwegian hit his stride this past year whilst playing for Villarreal. As the imposing figure upfront for the Yellow Submarines, Sorløth dominated opposing back lines en route to scoring 23 goals and providing six assists during the 2023-24 league season. Thus, Sorløth finished one goal shy of Artem Dovbyk for earning La Liga’s Pichichi Trophy. However, Sorløth’s stout striking tally did best that of several world class attackers, such as Robert Lewandowski (19), Antoine Griezmann (16), Vini Jr. (15), as well as former Atletico striker Alvaro Morata (15). 

Morata is rather noteworthy, since Sorløth is the man tabbed to replace him at the Wanda. Whilst Morata is a talented and tough center forward, Sorløth’s arrival is undoubtedly an upgrade, as indicative of the aforementioned statistics. The Norwegian will provide more consistency than his predecessor in front of goal, something that Atleti desperately crave.

Julian Alvarez (SS / CF / ST)

Diego Simeone’s third signing, Julian Alvarez, comes with a hefty price tag worth up to €95 million, but the 24 year old Argentine will likely be the best addition of the bunch. Despite his tender age, Alvarez already possesses a well-decorated CV. Prior to moving abroad in 2022, Alvarez was an integral part of South American giant River Plate, where he won the domestic league, all three domestic cups, as well as the Copa Libertadores and Recopa Sudamericana. In addition, en route to claiming the 2021 South American Player of the Year Award, Alvarez dazzled to the tune of netting six times in a single match against Alianza Lima in the Copa Libertadores. Simply incredible! 

Since that time, Alvarez has plied his trade for Manchester City, where he’s won everything there is to win in England, as well as the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup. 

Meanwhile, from an international perspective, Alvarez has won two Copas America, a FIFA World Cup, and a CONMBEL-UEFA Cup of Champions, whilst suiting up for La Abliceleste. 

Needless to say, Alvarez comes to the Wanda with sky high expectations and with a chance to get regular playing time alongside Sorløth, unlike at Man City where the Argentine was seemingly stuck in Haaland’s shadow.

Conor Gallagher (CM)

The final signing for Atletico de Madrid, is Conor Gallagher. As of now, Gallagher hasn’t officially signed, but is still expected to, thanks to a breakdown pertaining to a contingent deal with a current Atletico player needing to head the other way to Chelsea. Assuming that things get ironed out and this deal indeed gets completed, Los Colchoneros will be getting a talented midfielder, who at the age of 24, is already a bonafide leader, as indicative of his captaincy for Chelsea last term. 

Gallagher is a Chelsea graduate, and a member of the organization since 2008. At senior level, the 18 capped England international rose to prominence on loan at Crystal Palace during the 2021-22 campaign. At 6’ tall, he’s an imposing figure in the middle of the park, aiming to disrupt play for the opposition, whilst controlling it for his teammates.

The thought of Atletico featuring midfield options of Gallagher, Antonie Griezmann, Rodrigo De Paul, Marcos Llorente, Lemar, Koke, and Rodrigo Riquelme is downright frightening. 

Prediction: Atletico to Rival Real, Like 2013-14

For Atleti, last season’s statistical performances — allowing 43 goals, tied for most in a single season for ATM since the 2013-14 season — was an aberration. The foundation of Simeone’s squad is defense, and with the signing of Le Normand and potentially Gallagher, Atleti’s defensive totals should progress back to the teams’ means of allowing just 29 goals per campaign. This alone would increase Atletico’s overall points total, but we’ve yet to talk about the attacking end of things. 

Offensively, Atletico did in fact have one of its best season’s statistically over the past 11 seasons — netting 70 goals. However, this total should be the floor for this current squad, rather than its ceiling. With the additions of goal scoring connoisseurs Sorløth and Alvarez, Simeone’s side should net at an even higher clip than it did a year ago. 

Conversely, whilst Florentino Perez brought in the most coveted player in recent memory, Mbappe, Real not only lost legendary midfielder Toni Kroos through retirement, but also failed to bolster an aging back line, one in which is now without club stalwart Nacho Fernandez, who moved to the Saudi Pro League after hoisting the European Championship Trophy for Spain. 

Therefore, unlike most pundits, I’m not excepting a runaway campaign for Real Madrid. Rather, La Liga will be as tight as it’s been since Los Colchoneros pipped Madrid and Barcelona by just three points to win the league in 2013-14.