7 Players Atletico Madrid Should Clear Out in 2016 Summer Transfer Window

The post-season inquisition has begun at Atletico Madrid after they ended the season empty-handed, losing in the final of the UEFA Champions League to Real Madrid on Saturday and the Liga title race to Barcelona.

Despite an excellent campaign overall in terms of results against big teams and certain individuals’ performances and growth over 2015-16, the disappointment will be enormous at the Vicente Calderon, as they couldn’t turn their impressive year into tangible success in the form of silverware.

Plans are already well under way to reshape the squad over the summer, with Nicolas Gaitan and Diogo Jota already set to join, per Marca, with the same Spanish publication also reporting a move for right-back Sime Vrsaljko is in the offing.

Where additions are made, though, departures also become necessary—and Diego Simeone and Co. will have to make space in the squad by offloading some of this season’s fringe players.

There’s no great need for a sweeping overhaul of the squad, but Atleti nonetheless have a number of names who perhaps won’t offer much to a push for success next term.

 

Luciano Vietto

One of the biggest disappointments of the season was Luciano Vietto. The Argentinian forward failed to make enough of an impact over the first half of the campaign when he was in the team, and as a result he was gradually eased out of the squad over the second half, missing the Champions League final (and not even named on the bench).

Vietto was never close to the finished product some unreasonably expected of him, but he should have had enough quality and confidence to be a good squad player.

Even when Jackson Martinez departed the Calderon, Vietto failed to push on and secure a place due to a lack of composure and killer touch in the box. He was not quite as aggressive out of possession as he needed to be and didn’t have the speed of movement that Fernando Torres or Angel Correa brought.

Celta Vigo are hopeful of signing him this summer, according to AS. Atletico shouldn’t lose faith in Vietto entirely, perhaps loaning him out, but a sale and option to buy back in a year or two could work in a similar way.

 

Jesus Gamez

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