The last time Atlético and Juventus met, the then most expensive signing in the history of the Madrid club only appeared on the screen chasing rivals (without success) as if instead of a striker it was a side. His match was horrible. Neither more nor less than that of the rest of his companions, but so disappointing that his gap in the inevitable revolution that triggered the Turin debacle was not assured. Ten months after Atleti paid 70 million for him, the future of Thomas Lemar as a rojiblanco was in the air.

Sponsored by Griezmann, next to the one who won the World Cup and from which he barely took off during his first course in Madrid, his friend's turbulent goodbye looked like another nail in his coffin. And the signing for 126 million, leaving nothing in his record, from another mediaman like Joao Felix, one more nail. And the overbooking of attackers with the resurrections of Diego Costa or Vitolo, the final nail. Or not. Because, in reality, each one of those events that separated him a little more from the focus was a relief for Lemar. A relief off the field and a step forward within it.

«Cholo liked it from day one, which is not easy, and he played great in the European Super Cup against Madrid, but he is a very young boy (23 years old) and a bit shy and sometimes gave the feeling that it hurt him to expect so much from him. He is more comfortable in the background, ”they explain from the locker room, after Lemar has become, against prognosis, one of the highlights in this exciting athletic preseason that comes to an end today.

The faith of the technician

Simeone, who against the majority opinion of the stands and without the protection of the numbers (just three goals and six assists) gave him infinite opportunities last year, has kept his faith and has been a fixed despite the signings. In fact, this afternoon, in the general rehearsal before the first League match against Getafe, he will remain in the eleven despite the fact that Cholo, with Costa sanctioned for the league premiere, will sacrifice an attacker to put a third midfielder.

Does not matter. There will continue Lemar. "My first season does not reveal what I can do," said the Frenchman a few days ago. The old Turin ghost is the ideal rival to start demonstrating it.

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  • Thomas Lemar
  • European Super Cup
  • Joao Felix
  • Diego Costa
  • Transfer Market
  • Atlético de Madrid
  • sports
  • football
  • Getafe CF
  • Turin Juventus

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