Atlético enter life without Uruguayans after Giménez loan and Griezmann exit | OneFootball

Atlético Madrid enter life without Uruguayans under Diego Simeone for the first time, after Antoine Griezmann’s celebrated farewell and José María Giménez’s deadline loan to Deportivo this summer.

As reported by as.com, a full legend’s goodbye for Giménez must wait, though the Metropolitano will soon host Deportivo. He aims to return, hoping the loan is a pause rather than an end. Griezmann absorbed Uruguay’s culture at Real Sociedad.

The bond is long-standing. Diego Alonso was promotion Pichichi and mentor to Fernando Torres, then came Olivera, De los Santos, Richard Núñez and Pato Sosa before 2007, when Diego Forlán arrived, won the club’s last Golden Shoe and scored both goals in a Europa League final.

Diego Godín joined in 2010, a cornerstone of the Simeone era, followed by Cebolla Rodríguez and a teenage Giménez from Danubio in 2013. Injuries curbed Giménez, yet he won La Liga in 2013-14 and 20-21 with Luis Suárez and Torreira.

Since Suárez left in 2022, Giménez had been the last Uruguayan. He sits on 384 Atlético appearances to Godín’s 389, and could yet add to them. Uruguay are the club’s third most represented foreign nation with 25 players, behind Argentina on 63 and Brazil on 32.

San Mamés will have a world champion feel, with Unai Simón, Laporte and Nico Williams facing Llorente, Pubill, Grimaldo and Baena, all likely starters. Marcos Llorente has confirmed his international retirement, and Athletic’s academy core meet an Atlético list featuring eight homegrown players.

Source: as.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”