What the Signing of Nicolas Gaitan Means for Atletico Madrid Next Season

Atletico Madrid look to have already nailed down their first big signing of the summer, with Marca reporting over the weekend that the Liga club had agreed a €25 million fee with Benfica to sign Nicolas Gaitan.

With Los Rojiblancos preparing for a UEFA Champions League final on Saturday, it has been plain to see this season that they already possess one of the best squads around Europe—but a couple of quality additions in attacking positions could make the difference between another title challenge next term and actually winning the league.

Gaitan certainly ticks the boxes that we identified Atleti needing in our recent look at how they could build on this season, so how will he affect the side in 2016-17 and what work still remains?

Competition

The first point to note is that as a 28-year-old, it’s clear that Gaitan will be coming in as a near-guaranteed starter, a reference point for the attack already as rounded and ready as he is ever likely to be.

A wide threat, playing from the left of midfield for Benfica, the Argentina international will be expected to provide goals from the second line—something Atletico lacked this season too often—and add to their ability to dominate play more often.

This season it has been either Koke left side in a quartet or Yannick Carrasco, who has shown flashes of brilliance but spells of average play too, …

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