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#3 Atletico’s midfield looks very tasty
For the first time in a long while, the Atletico midfield will be dominated by Cantera products. Rodri, Koke, Saul Niguez and Thomas Partey will form the nucleus of the team’s midfield for the 2018/2019 season and will provide a fascinating mix of steel, pace, youthfulness, and goals (as evidenced by the goals by Saul and Koke against Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup).
Ghanaian international Partey and Rodri will form the defensive part of the midfield. Rodri was a revelation at Villarreal last season.
His interceptions, tackling, intelligent use of the ball and ability to sniff out danger earned him a first La Furia Roja call-up and he is already being mentioned as a long-term successor to Sergio Busquets.
Koke has continued to grow as the years go on and he is now fully in his element as one of the team’s leaders. His tenacity, long and short passing range, tackling, dead-ball ability, and instinct for being in the right place have made him one of Simeone’s favourites.
Saul is the livewire in the midfield and the one who adds the dangerous X-Factor element to the side. Very left-footed with a wicked shot, his pace, dribbling, work rate, creativity, and knack for scoring spectacular goals in the big games will continue to give Atleti an outlet - especially in the tight games.
