Who Will Be Atletico Madrid's First-Choice Right-Back This Season?

Cast your minds back to before Euro 2016 took over our screens and to the last kick of Atletico Madrid’s 2015/16 season.

Some of you will never have left that moment, of course, and least of all Juanfran.

Up stepped the Atletico right-back, there was a split-second pause when the world took a breath, and then a low, well-struck penalty down to Keylor Navas’ right. The goalkeeper went the correct way, but he needn’t have bothered. His post did the work for him.

All that was left was for Cristiano Ronaldo to win the evening and the Champions League for Real Madrid, with his glee at the San Siro proving to be the perfect opening gambit to a summer that eventually got even better for him. Some people have all the luck.

For Juanfran and Atletico, there was nothing but sadness, and there was certainly never going to be bitterness and recrimination.

The right-back is a loyal servant to Diego Simeone’s side, and in the days that followed that defeat in the final, he released a passionate and heartfelt letter to the club’s supporters.

They seem to love him, and he seems to love them.

Is that enough, though?

Now that the focus is switching back onto club matters, the arrival of new signing Sime Vrsaljko in the Spanish capital will have given plenty of Atletico supporters food for thought.

The Croatia international—who came on in the closing seconds of the crazy 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic in Saint-Etienne at Euro 2016 and then started the 2-1 group-stage victory over Spain—has been quick to spell out his delight at swapping Sassuolo for Atletico, telling AS:

"

I'm happy because I'm joining a real top side who work like one big family and I can't wait to start working with them myself.

My objective was to join a team who were playing in [the Champions League] and I am very happy, focused and ready to give the team whatever I can.

"

No mention of the substitutes’ bench there, then, and nor should there be.

At 24, Vrsaljko will feel as though he is making the step up to the Champions League finalists at just the right time in his career, with his new boss Diego Simeone renowned worldwide for improving the defensive aspects of all of his charges.

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An apprenticeship served in Serie A should do him some good, too, and with the sheer number of matches that Atletico will be facing in the new season will come plenty of opportunities to play.

When the really big matches come around, will he get in ahead of a focused Juanfran determined to make up for his Milan heartbreak, though? It’s doubtful.

The Spain international didn’t put much of a foot wrong in his side’s Euro 2016 campaign, where he played every minute of his side’s four games, and at 31, he certainly isn’t over the hill just yet.

A trusted Simeone lieutenant, he provides solid defensive work with quality on the ball going forward, and Atletico fans wouldn’t want to see anybody else lining up on the right side of their defence when their La Liga campaign kicks off with a home clash against on August 21.

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All things being equal, Vrsaljko will have to be patient and bide his time in order to be given a chance to impress his new club’s supporters.

He’ll get plenty of those chances, of course.

Atletico will play in enough Champions League group stage matches, Copa del Rey ties and, indeed, La Liga matches to satisfy the hunger of a gifted, highly rated right-back who will be a welcome addition to Simeone’s squad. He just shouldn’t expect to be immediately surpassing Juanfran in his manager’s plans.

The Atletico favourite will start out the new season determined to put right the most infamous wrong of the old one, and Vrsaljko’s addition won’t change that.