Atletico Madrid close to finalising €15m deal for promising 20-year-old defender | OneFootball

Atletico Madrid are set for a very busy summer, with Diego Simeone keen to overhaul certain areas of his squad. With one month to go until the transfer window opens, they are already set to make their first signing.

O Jogo have reported that Atleti are closing in on a deal to sign Rodrigo Gomes, who is a 20-year-old right-back that currently plays for Braga. Last season, he amassed nine goals and eight assists for fellow Portuguese side Estoril – predominantly playing as a right wing-back, where he would operate in Simeone’s system.

Atleti would pay €15m to Braga to get the deal done, a hefty amount considering their ongoing financial struggles. However, it does suggest that they value him incredibly highly, and he would further add to the young crop of players in Simeone’s squad – alongside the likes of Pablo Barrios, Arthur Vermeeren and Samu Omorodion.

If signed, Gomes would provide much-needed depth on the right side of Atletico Madrid’s defence. Nahuel Molina had a very poor 2023-24 season, and he will need to buck up his ideas if he is to remain as first-choice going into 2024-25.