Vargas stays put: Atleti's young Mexican midfielder to remain at Wanda
Despite loan interest from several clubs, Atlético Madrid have decided to keep 20-year-old Obed Vargas as part of Simeone's first-team squad for the remainder of the season.
Young Mexican midfielder Obed Vargas will remain with Atlético Madrid’s first team rather than being shipped out on loan, as the January transfer window closes with the 20-year-old officially part of Cholo Simeone’s squad.
Loan move shelved
Despite serious consideration of a temporary move to give the Seattle Sounders product some European experience, Atleti brass have decided Vargas will stay put at the Metropolitano. The youngster becomes the third new face in Simeone’s squad alongside Lookman and Mendoza, and will join training from Tuesday.
Celta Vigo had emerged as frontrunners among La Liga sides interested in taking the midfielder on loan, ahead of both Getafe and Mallorca. Sporting Lisbon in Portugal was another potential destination being weighed up, but ultimately the club’s decision was to keep him in-house.
Inexperienced but promising
While Vargas lacks top-level European experience, he’s not exactly a complete novice. The lad has already racked up an impressive 130 appearances in the MLS despite his tender age. Atlético clearly see him as one for the future - a proper long-term investment - which explains their willingness to include him in their 23-man squad for the remainder of the campaign.
In fact, the club had already registered Vargas with La Liga even before officially announcing his signing - a clear indication of their plans for the player.
Boyhood dream realized
For Vargas himself, this move represents the culmination of a childhood dream. Before facing Atlético in the Club World Cup with Seattle, he openly expressed his admiration for the Spanish side.
“From a very young age, I saw that everyone liked Madrid and Barcelona. I, on the other hand, identified with Atlético because of the fighting spirit with which they play,” Vargas previously revealed.
Now the boy from Seattle gets to don the famous red and white stripes of the team he supported as a youngster. With his passion for the club’s ethos and Simeone’s decision to keep him around the first team, this could be the start of something special for the young Mexican-American midfielder.