Johnny Cardoso, a visitor to the Metropolitano in last Sunday’s match, has burst into the race for Atletico in the race for the signing of a midfielder. So much so that he has now become the priority to fill the void left by Thomas’ departure in the summer of 2020.
The Ghanaian’s contract with Arsenal expires on June 30, which led Atletico to explore the possibility of his return. However, despite being attractive both because he is a free and high-level player and because he knows the club and Simeone’s methods, his high salary and economic pretensions put him out of the reach of the Metropolitano club.
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Not only that, but from Atletico’s general football management it is understood that if it is a question of building a future of present and future, the option of Johnny Cardoso fits much better into the project. On the one hand, because in just a season and a half at Betis he has already demonstrated the qualities of a big club midfielder. On the other hand, because at 23 years of age (compared to Thomas’ 32 in less than a month) he would be a reinforcement with a projection to dominate football for almost a decade.
Hence the name Johnny Cardoso now appears in red on the list of a Carlos Bucero convinced that he would be the signing that, once and for all since Atletico went for a number 5 in the summer of 2023, would meet Cholo’s needs in the engine room.
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A feasible operation
Although just three months ago the United States international of Brazilian origin (he also has an Italian passport, something that would not be a problem for Atletico, who already have three non-EU players) extended until 2030 the commitment that tied him to Betis until 2029, in the Metropolitano they see it feasible that the operation could go ahead.
Mainly because of the overwhelming need in Heliopolis to make a sale before June 30 to help balance the books for this financial year, regardless of what may come from the Conference League final on May 28.
Hence, neither the extension of the contract (in addition to recognizing Cardoso’s performance, it also served the club to reduce the annual amortization of the player and alleviate its economy), nor the 80 million euro release clause nor the preferential option that Tottenham has reduce Atletico’s optimism.
On the contrary, although the English club could launch a bid for his signing for a sum of 25 million euros between June 20 and July 10 or match a higher offer that came from any other club, the final word lies with Cardoso himself. In this sense, with Spurs’ only chance of winning the Europa League to get into the Champions League and with Atletico knowing that the midfielder would be seduced by the idea of wearing red and white, it is understood that the operation could be channeled in terms not far removed from these amounts.
