The worst signings in the history of Atlético de Madrid

Throughout its history, Atlético de Madrid has made some great signings that have marked an era. However, like any club, it has also had signings that have not met expectations and have gone down in history as some of the club's worst. Below, we analyze five of them, excluding Radamel Falcao, whose return, although not entirely successful, was marked by special circumstances such as injuries.

1. João Félix:

The most expensive signing in the club's history has yet to justify its high price tag. Despite his undeniable talent, his adaptation to Simeone's system has been inconsistent, and his performance has been below expectations. His lack of goals and inconsistency have raised many doubts about his future at the club.

2. Jackson Martínez:

The Colombian arrived at Atlético de Madrid with a great reputation after his time at Porto. However, his spell at the club was a complete failure. His lack of goals and his evident disconnect with the team led him to leave the club in a short time. The pressure of replacing Diego Costa was too much for the Colombian.

3. Nicolás Gaitán:

The Argentine arrived at Atlético de Madrid with a great reputation, but he failed to prove his worth at the club. His performance was very inconsistent and he failed to adapt to Simeone's style of play. His lack of goals and his little impact on the game were the main reasons for his failure.

4. Alessio Cerci:

The Italian arrived at Atlético de Madrid with the label of a star, but his time at the club was a complete failure. His performance was well below expectations and he was unable to contribute anything to the team. His inability to adapt to Simeone's style of play and his attitude were questioned on several occasions.

5. Thomas Lemar:

The Frenchman arrived at Atlético de Madrid with the expectation of becoming a key player in the team. However, his performance has been very inconsistent and he has failed to establish himself as a starter. His lack of goals and his poor performance in important matches have generated a lot of criticism.

Why were these players considered a failure?

• Lack of adaptation to Simeone's style of play: Many of these players failed to adapt to Diego Simeone's demanding style of play, characterized by defensive effort and collective play.
• Media pressure and expectations: The high expectations placed on these players, due to their big signings or previous reputations, created additional pressure that made it difficult for them to adapt.
• Injuries: In some cases, injuries have been a determining factor in the failure of these players, preventing them from reaching their full potential.
• Lack of goals: The lack of goals is one of the main reasons why these players have been considered a failure. In a team like Atlético de Madrid, where goals are essential, not scoring enough goals is a death sentence.