The European Football Confederation (UEFA) has recently confirmed if the 2019/20 season could not be completed because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the current position on the rankings of teams in the league can be a basis for considering the European Cup qualification next season.
If that possibility becomes a reality, Atletico Madrid will be one of the biggest teams to suffer the most. Because, the current position of Diego Simeone’s teachers and students is 6th in the La Liga table after 27 rounds but they are only four top teams away (Barcelona, Real Madrid, Sevilla and Real Sociedad) with fourth place. Sociedad’s correct 1 point (45 points compared to 46 points).
Economic difficulties put Atletico Madrid at high risk of selling Saul Niguez to MU
Atletico has just excelled the European champions Liverpool to advance to this year’s Champions League quarter-finals. But if, by chance, “Rojiblancos” could not win the Champions League, and La Liga this season ended right in round 27, they will not be able to win tickets to the Champions League next season, they will not receive 100 million euros from revenue. (mostly from television rights).
Worryingly for Atletico Madrid, if they are unable to win the Champions League next season, the Wanda Metropolitano team may have to bid farewell to a number of good players, most notably the duo Saul Niguez and Thomas Partey.
Atletico is not only distorted because Spanish and European football has stalled the Covid-19 season, which has forced them to reduce their salaries, but also because of a € 200 million debt for the construction of a new Wanda Metropolitano (inaugurated year 2017) replace the old yard Vicente Calderon.
Spanish player Saul Niguez was the only one who scored Atletico Madrid’s 1-0 win over Liverpool in the first leg of the 1/8 Champions League round this year. Saul Niguez was also one of the best players in the second leg of this round when his team won 3-2 in extra time in the second leg at Anfield to put Simeone’s teachers and students in the quarterfinals.
Saul Niguez is the target of MU long sought. The terms of his current contract release with Atletico Madrid amount to 150 million euros. But in the context of the sharp decline in player values because of the impact of Covid-19, it can help MU own a central midfielder with the ability to pass and shoot well of “Rojiblancos” at a much lower price.