Atletico Madrid hold initial talks for Lazio’s Matteo Guendouzi | OneFootball

Matteo Guendouzi’s time in the Italian capital appears to be drawing to a close as Atletico Madrid emerge as a serious destination for the French midfielder. According to a report by Il Messaggero, relayed by LaLazioSiamoNoi, a group of intermediaries traveled to Madrid on Saturday to hold direct talks with the Spanish club regarding a potential transfer.

Notably, Guendouzi is increasingly open to a departure from Lazio as he seeks a new challenge, and the lure of Diego Simeone’s project is a significant factor. While there is also interest from the Premier League and Turkey—specifically Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray—the contact with Atletico marks a concrete step forward. Consequently, the Biancocelesti have set a firm valuation for the 26-year-old, demanding no less than €30 million to sanction a sale during the January window.

Furthermore, Lazio are exploring the possibility of including Giacomo Raspadori in the discussions. The Italian striker is currently at Atletico but has yet to finalize his future, with Roma also circling. Indeed, the Roman club had initially hoped to structure an exchange, though the Guendouzi-Atletico track is reportedly developing independently of other negotiations.

As things stand, Claudio Lotito is in no mood to offer discounts for a player who remains central to Maurizio Sarri’s plans. Should Atletico meet the €30 million asking price, the funds would likely be immediately reinvested to satisfy Sarri’s requests for midfield reinforcements.

Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN