The intrahistory of the signing of Kondogbia: Atlético's remedy for a trauma

• Atlético.The reasons for the explosion of Joao Félix: regularity and a "youth squad" attitude

A week ago, Atlético had assumed that no reinforcement would arrive.

That until the winter market there was nothing to do.

The solution to mend the rift caused at the last minute by the departure of Thomas Partey, on that traumatic Monday when the deadline ended (October 5), the Central African Geoffrey Kondogbia, then seemed out of reach.

And that in that same week, the agreement with

, president of Valencia and

, It was closed.

The red-and-white offer was three million for the transfer until the end of the season and a purchase option at the end of the course for 12, provided that the Madrid team qualified again for the Champions League.

Those 15 million, according to sources from the rojiblanco club, were the figures for that first offer, which has finally crystallized as a fixed amount.

Both Kondogbia and Murthy closed the operation.

Also in the Metropolitan.

But from Singapore the door slammed.

Lim initially ruled out the African midfielder's departure, hence his tremendous anger with Murthy, which he expressed through social networks.

"You had to fool your coach and finally me. Thank you, Anil Murthy," he exploded.

And the player, excited about the idea of ​​playing for Atlético, cited problems in one heel to miss

training sessions

.

On Sunday, the cameras caught him in Madrid, next to the University of Navarra clinic, where the new Atletico acquisitions undergo a medical examination.

"Atlético made an offer weeks ago and we have not changed it," they assured this newspaper from the athletic entity.

Finally, the transfer has been made official.

The player signed for three and a half seasons.

It has happened to Kondogbia like

, who will be his partner in the core.

The Uruguayan underwent a medical examination on a Saturday, but could not be announced until Monday.

He stayed for a couple of days in a hotel, waiting for an exit from the rojiblanco changing room.

What I didn't expect is that it was finally Thomas.

Without that surprise march, after Arsenal paid their 50 million clause at the last minute, neither he nor Kondogbia would now be under the same roof.

That yes, the African will only be able to play domestic competitions of beginning.

Until the next winter market opens, you will not be able to be entered for the Champions League.

That chop with Diego Costa

If an agreement had not been reached before that deadline, which was October 5, Atlético would have tried again in January.

By then, the clause of Kondogbia, 27, the same age as Thomas,

and at the same time his salary drops.

In Madrid he will be in one of the intermediate salary steps of the workforce, around five million, charging an amount very close to what Thomas would have received had his renewal with the rojiblanca entity been completed.

Kondogbia, who started in Valencia's first five games, was the first name that came out of the mouth of

, Atlético's sporting director, after the loss of Thomas.

Meet LaLiga, where he has played 115 games for Sevilla (2012/13) and the Valencian club (2017/20), with seven goals and eight assists.

Its current market value, according to the specialized website Transfermarkt is

.

An amount similar to that which will be paid for the transfer of a footballer acclimatized to LaLiga and who will share a roof with Diego Costa, the one who upset him in 2013, during a second leg match in the Copa del Rey semifinals.

They were different times.

That is just an anecdote.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

• sports

• football

LaLiga Santander 2020 - 2021 Elizegi denies Alkorta: "It is not true that the players took the initiative" to sign Llorente

FútbolEspaña and Portugal agree to promote a joint bid to organize the 2030 World Cup

Interview Aitana Bonmatí: "In my first years of soccer I had fights, insults ... But I never let myself be stepped on"

See links of interest

• Last minute

• Spanish translator

• Programming

• 2020 calendar

• Movies Today

• Topics

• UD Logroñés - Alcorcón

• Sporting de Gijón - Castellón

• Fulham - West Bromwich Albion

• TSG Hoffenheim - 1. FC Union Berlin

• Verona - Benevento