Atletico Madrid Should Resist All Offers for Defender Jose Gimenez

If you've ever spent a Saturday or Sunday afternoon browsing around Twitter, you will have observed the flurry of Vines that appear when notable moments in European football transpire.

Often, the Vines pop up because of an individual golazo. Other times, it's a sublime team goal.

But it can also be because of a neat interchange, glaring blunder, last-minute winner or title-clincher. Anything, really.

However, the common denominator among nearly all of the small clips is that they feature goals—the currency of football.

And it's for that reason that March 21 was noteworthy. On a typical afternoon of football, Twitter's Vines featured something strikingly different: Atletico Madrid's Jose Gimenez making a block.

It sounds pretty routine on its own. Mundane, even.

But once you've watched the footage, you realise you're dealing with something—or, perhaps more accurately, someone—rather special.

At the time, this writer remarked that Gimenez's block on Getafe's Fredy Hinestroza neatly encapsulated the essence of the outfit Diego Simeone has built at the Vicente Calderon:

"

Hinestroza found that out the hard way. He'd passed up two openings to seize upon a third, perhaps the best one. Then, as he struck his shot, he watched Jose Gimenez, already on the ground, drive in front of his boot.

With his head.

Gimenez risked a broken nose. Risked a concussion. Possibly a fractured cheekbone.

It could have been even worse than that. It could, had it gone wrong, have been horrific.

And he did it just to block a shot. Just to save a single goal. To follow his manager "off the bridge."

That, summed up in a single moment, is Simeone's Atletico Madrid.

"

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It's an important point, as those who have truly blossomed in the red and white half of Madrid since Simeone's arrival have been those prepared to embrace his mentality. To carry his fire onto the pitch.

In a very short time, Gimenez has already proved he's one of those. The face-first block against Getafe might even be evidence that the Uruguayan embodies his manager's intensity more than anyone else on the banks of the Manzanares.

"He's constantly progressing and his commitment and delivery reflect that," Simeone said of the 20-year-old at a news conference after his stunning commitment to block Hinestroza's shot. "His attitude and energy allow him to continue competing."

Now, with the rest of Europe aware and watching, Atleti must ensure their blossoming central defender remains at the Vicente Calderon.

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In December, MailOnline's Simon Jones reported that Atleti had rejected a £17 million bid for Gimenez from Manchester City. The Daily Express' David Wright then suggested Louis van Gaal and Manchester United would ramp up their pursuit of the defender. 

Last week, the Daily Express' Anthony Chapman reported that United were ready to recommence their chase of the Uruguayan, sensing that the tussle between Gimenez and Miranda for the other defensive post alongside Diego Godin will inevitably lead to the departure of one or the other.

As explained by Bleacher Report's Nick Dorrington, letting the Brazilian veteran go is feasible. But watching Gimenez depart would not be.

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Among young defenders across the continent, perhaps only Real Madrid's Raphael Varane is held in a higher regard than Gimenez. However, a case could certainly be made for Gimenez being the better of the two across the current season.

In critical UEFA Champions League meetings with Juventus and Bayer Leverkusen, he was outstanding. When faced with Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey, he was just the same.

He's also consistently stepped in for Godin and Miranda at various junctures in La Liga and shone, despite being denied a long run in the team and consistently standing alongside a different partner.

In fact, only Barcelona's surging attack has really given the former Danubio star headaches in what has been a breakout campaign.

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Of course, what's allowed Gimenez to adapt to some of football's most demanding stages is that he does the aspects of defending that are difficult to teach extremely well.

He's exceptional in a positional sense, quick to react to sudden changes and clearly reads the game rapidly. We know these things because he's so often seen making timely interventions, whether it be through a block, interception, tackle or clearance.

Naturally, there are areas of the Uruguayan's game that need improvement—most notably his distribution—but 90 percent of the package is already there. The intangibles, the things that normally require time and experience to develop, can already be seen in his game.

And best of all, he embodies the essence of Simeone's mentality. The flurry of Vines of his incredible block against Getafe stands as a perfect example of this.

In the face of external interest, Atleti need to do all they can to keep him.