Atlético Madrid eyeing Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo in late transfer swoop
Los Rojiblancos exploring last-minute loan deal with Saudi club Al-Hilal for former Santos and Benfica forward as they seek attacking reinforcements.
Atleti racing against the clock to bolster squad after January departures left Simeone’s options looking thinner than my barnet these days.
Late Transfer Dash
With the winter transfer window slamming shut faster than a taxi door in Piccadilly, Atlético Madrid are scrambling to address the gaping holes left by four departures this month. The club’s shopping list features two priority positions: midfield and attack.
After previously considering targets like Kang-in Lee and Ademola Lookman, a surprising new name has emerged from the rumour mill – Brazilian striker Marcos Leonardo, currently plying his trade with Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Hilal.
Sources indicate Los Colchoneros have already initiated contact with the Saudi club and are negotiating a potential loan deal to bring the forward to the Spanish capital.
Who is Marcos Leonardo?
The 21-year-old Brazilian emerged from Santos’ famed youth academy – the same production line that gave us Neymar, Rodrygo and countless other Samba stars. His goalscoring record at Santos was proper tasty:
- 35 goals in 100 appearances for Santos
- Earned a €22 million move to Benfica
- Spent two seasons in Portugal
- Transferred to Al-Hilal last year for a whopping €40 million
Current Form
Leonardo hasn’t exactly been having a mare in Saudi Arabia either. This season he’s notched:
- 14 goals in 24 matches
- 1 assist
Why Atlético Need Reinforcements
Simeone’s squad has been left noticeably unbalanced after the January exodus. With attacking options looking limited and midfield depth a concern, sporting director Andrea Berta is working overtime to give El Cholo the tools he needs for the business end of the season.
Whether Leonardo is the answer to Atleti’s prayers remains to be seen, but with time running out, the Brazilian represents an interesting option with proven goalscoring credentials.