Udinese market, Atletico pulled back: no auction for Molina

From Madrid the confirmation that Cholo Simeone wants to bet on Marcos Llorente. Juventus goes to pole for the Argentine, behind Arsenal with the Marì card

UDINE. Sometimes the transfer market can give really unpredictable twists, and the one reported by Madrid is just one of them. In fact, from Spain came news of the renunciation of the race for Nahuel Molina by Atletico Madrid, the club to which Udinese ceded Rodrigo De Paul last year, but above all the one with which the bianconeri still have the loan of Nehuen Perezan open “question” with numbered days, since by June 30 the colchoneros will have to decide whether to bring the Argentine defender home, or leave him for another year in Friuli, as well as in the possibilities linked to the dry loan.

It is difficult to understand if and to what extent the two operations can intertwine with each other, but looking at it from the perspective of the Pozzo house, it cannot be ruled out that they can both skip. And this for two reasons, the first of which is attributable to the step backwards, to the reverse that Atletico decided to do, effectively withdrawing from that auction that was looming with Juventus and Arsenal, also interested in the 24-year-old national. Argentine who had also convinced Italy in the Grand Final in London, before serving an assist Lionel Messi in the last test of the Albiceleste with Estonia. The starting price requested by the “auctioneer” Gino Pozzo it is known, about 25 million euros, but this does not seem to be the reason for the withdrawal of Atletico.

More than of an economic nature, the decision seems to be linked by technical reasons. On that right wing, in fact, Atletico will focus strongly on Mark Llorente, a 27-year-old jewel with an evaluation of 45 million euros, to which the “Cholo” Simeone often made the low winger also do it, as in the last of the Champions League with Manchester City. Llorente is a wild card but in the eyes of the coach it is that “leg” winger at Molina that Atletico already finds at home. Who, on the other hand, could really miss Simeone in the near future, is really a more scorer defender, capable of playing as a winger both three and four, and this is because the Croatian Sime Vrsaljko it will expire on June 30th. Here is the second reason that could upset the Pozzos, since it could be Perez who takes the place of Vrsaljko. It is therefore of this situation, with the possible return to Madrid of the Argentine, and not of the purchase of Molina, that Atletico and Udinese will have to talk about by the end of the month. At the moment, therefore, nothing is excluded.

But where can Molina end up? More than at Arsenal, which seems to be out of the way, but the “card” could also be played Pablo Marì with Udinese, reviewing the claims linked to the 14 million valuation on the 29-year-old defensive center, there is no doubt that the withdrawal of Atletico puts Juventus on a preferential lane to get to Molina. Not surprisingly, the latest from Turin give the two companies close to a negotiation, for a handover between former “Friulian” bianconeri which could also be facilitated by the problems related to the renewal of john square. The 34-year-old Colombian does not seem willing to file the 5 million annual contract requested by the club, despite the automatic renewal reached until 2023, thanks to the attendance ceiling (40) reached during the season.