- Atletico Madrid target Atalanta’s Mateo Retegui, who scored 25 goals last season in Serie A
- Villarreal midfielder Alex Baena is close to joining Atletico, with Rodrigo Riquelme expected to go the other way
- Mallorca’s Leo Roman could become Jan Oblak’s new backup if Juan Musso leaves
Key Takeaways:
Atletico Madrid have identified Atalanta striker Mateo Retegui as their latest transfer target. Head coach Diego Simeone views the Italian international as the perfect addition to strengthen his team’s attack. However, negotiations will be tough, as Atalanta are expected to demand at least €60 million for Serie A’s top scorer.
💣🚨 BREAKING – Pending Confirmation: Atlético Madrid and Villarreal are in talks for a swap deal involving Alex Baena and Rodrigo Riquelme plus a fee.
Villarreal wants Roro and Atleti wants Baena.
Talks are underway to finalize negotiations in the coming days.@SERDeportivos pic.twitter.com/GSkx1RwkLH
— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) May 27, 2025
Atletico had already shown interest in Retegui back in 2023, before he arrived in Italy and signed with Genoa. The Argentina-born forward is not the only option for bolstering Atletico’s offensive line. Simeone’s shortlist also includes Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade.
Retegui scored 25 goals in 36 matches last season, earning the Serie A Golden Boot. Atalanta do not currently plan to sell him, but may struggle to reject a lucrative offer from Spain or England.
A deal much closer to completion is the transfer of Villarreal midfielder Alex Baena. Atletico have been working on the move for several weeks, and the transfer is expected to involve Rodrigo Riquelme heading to the “Yellow Submarine.”
If Juan Musso departs, Atletico will be in the market for a new backup goalkeeper for Jan Oblak. Mallorca’s Leo Roman is a strong candidate, with the potential deal expected to cost between €6 and €7 million.