Atletico Madrid, Raspadori: from Serie A glory to Spanish criticism | OneFootball

Giacomo Raspadori has been a constant presence, even if not always central, in the two Scudetti won by Napoli during the De Laurentiis era. In the blue jersey, he experienced important moments but never managed to carve out a defined tactical role or a consistent performance level that would establish him as an indispensable starter.

Atletico Madrid, Raspadori post-Napoli: from the tricolor to criticism in Spain

The exception came only in the second half of last season: the departure of Kvaratskhelia and Neres' injury gave him space and responsibility. During that period, Raspadori made a significant impact with six crucial goals, proving decisive for the conquest of the fourth Scudetto in Neapolitan history.

The transfer to Atletico Madrid

Last summer, the move to Atletico Madrid for 22 million euros was seen as an investment for the future. The colchoneros bet on him to add quality and offensive solutions, but the former Napoli player's performance has not yet met expectations.

The criticism in Spain

The Spanish press has not held back from harsh judgments. Juan Arroita, a journalist for DAZN Futbol Spain, expressed himself bluntly: “The worst signing in La Liga this market was Raspadori.”

Arroita further added: “Atletico spent 22 million on a player who is not a starter, and even if he were, it would still be debatable. He wasn't even at Napoli. In recent seasons, he has made few starts: 11 as a starter in the last one, 14 in the previous, and 10 two years ago. He wasn't delivering high-level performances, yet Atletico decided to heavily invest in him. In a league like La Liga, where spending is cautious, this investment is surprising.”

A future to write

Raspadori thus finds himself at a crucial stage of his career: on one hand, the winning legacy with Napoli, and on the other, the need to earn space and trust in a demanding environment like Atletico Madrid. Talent and versatility are not lacking, but consistency and personality will be needed to overturn criticisms that currently paint him as a bad deal.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.