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Atletico Madrid are one of the top teams in Spain and Europe. The Rojiblancos are the only other team apart from Real Madrid and Barcelona to have won the La Liga title in the last decade.
During this period, Diego Simeone's men have also been consistent performers in Europe. They have been Champions League regulars since the 2013-14 season, making two finals (lost both times to Real Madrid). The Rojiblancos have won two Europa League titles in the last ten years.
Atletico Madrid have a lot of quality players in their ranks. The Rojiblancos haven't hesitated to splurge, especially in the last few years, bringing in the likes of Thomas Lemar, Joao Felix and Rodrigo de Paul, among others.
On that note, here's a look at the five most valuable Atletico players at the moment:
#5 Jose Maria Gimenez - €50 million
Jose Gimenez is one of a handful of players who have won two La Liga titles with the Rojiblancos in the last eight years.
The 27-year-old has been a first-team regular at Atletico since arriving in the red and white half of Madrid in the summer of 2013. The centre-back has made nearly 250 appearances for the club, bagging nine goals and eight assists.
He has scored just once in the last four seasons. However, Gimenez has played a key role in the Rojiblancos emerging as one of the continent's best defensive teams in the last few years.
The versatile Uruguayan has also featured in defensive midfield for Atletico, for whom he has appeared 19 times across competitions this season.
#4 Antoine Griezmann - €50 million
Antoine Griezmann is one of the top attackers in the game. However, his stock took a hit following an underwhelming two-season stint with Barcelona.
Back at Atletico last summer, albeit on loan, the 30-year-old seems to have rediscovered his mojo. The 2018 FIFA World Cup winner has bagged eight goals and three assists in 19 games across competitions.
Griezmann has netted in three different competitions this season, with four of his eight strikes this campaign coming in the Champions League. He is now nine strikes away from scoring 150 times for Atletico Madrid.
Simeone will hope for a strong second half of the season from the Frenchman as the Rojblancos seek to successfully defend their league title.
#3 Joao Felix - €60 million
Atletico Madrid splashed the big bucks (€127 million) to land Joao Felix in the summer of 2019. However, the 21-year-old has largely underwhelmed at the Wanda Metropolitano.
In nearly 100 games for the La Liga holders, Felix has bagged only 22 goals and 13 assists. He did play a key role in their La Liga triumph last season, netting and assisting seven times apiece. The Portuguese scored another three goals in the Champions League.
However, the 21-year-old has struggled to replicate the same exploits this season. In 21 games across competitions, he has only bagged three goals and as many assists.
Diego Simeone will hope that his young gun catches fire at the business end of the season and helps the Rojiblancos turn around their indifferent campaign.
#2 Marcos Llorente - €60 million
Marcos Llorente has been a fabulous player for Atletico Madrid since his arrival from Real Madrid in the summer of 2019.
The 27-year-old has already racked up over 100 appearances across competitions for the Rojiblancos, bagging 18 goals and 19 assists. He was one of the key protagonists in their La Liga triumph last season, scoring an impressive 12 goals and providing 11 assists.
Without the central midfielder, Atletico's win% in league games drops by one-third, which explains his importance to Simeone's team.
Currently out injured, Llorente is expected to return to action soon as Atletico hope to end their campaign on a strong note.
#1 Jan Oblak - €60 million
Jan Oblak is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the game at the moment.
Since arriving at the club in 2014, the 29-year-old has appeared in nearly 350 games, keeping a clean sheet every two outings. However, the Slovenian's poor form this season - eight shutouts in 30 games across competitions - has contributed to Atletico Madrid's indifferent fortunes.
The fourth-placed holders are a whopping 14 games behind league leaders Real Madrid. Meanwhile, in the Champions League, the Rojiblancos started Matchday 6 bottom of their group before a late winner at Porto helped them finish a flattering second. Atletico lost to Real Sociedad in the Copa Del Rey Round of 16.
Oblak will need to rediscover his mojo if Atletico Madrid hope to go deep in the Champions League and finish in the top four in La Liga.
