Toby Alderweireld's Return This Summer Will Be a Boost for Atletico Madrid

Ronald Koeman might be one of the most knowledgeable football figures around.

As a player, he spent three years at the football factory that is Ajax, captured a treble with PSV Eindhoven and was part of Barcelona's iconic "Dream Team," scoring the Blaugrana's winning goal in the 1992 European Cup final.

As a manager, he's spent time at eight clubs across four different leagues and has been an assistant at Barcelona and at international level with the Netherlands.

Thus, Koeman knows how one's experiences can shape a player. He understands what contrasting managers, styles and club ideologies can do to a footballer's progression.

It's why the current Southampton boss actively sought out Atletico Madrid's Toby Alderweireld last summer—he saw a range of attributes in the Belgian that would make the young defender an instant success in the Premier League.

"He played for Atletico Madrid and maybe last season Atletico Madrid had the best defence in Europe," Koeman said of Alderweireld, per Adam Bate of Sky Sports, understanding the impact Diego Simeone can have upon those under his watch. 

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

But Koeman also pointed to another key phase in Alderweireld's career: his time at Ajax, where he played 186 games across six seasons.

"He learned a lot because he was playing for Ajax and at Ajax it is more important to play with the ball," the Dutchman added.

What Koeman saw was a player who'd been moulded to be a ball-playing defender by the Dutch "Total Football" ethos and had also spent time learning under the tactical acumen of perhaps the best defensive organiser currently managing in Europe, Simeone.

Two big ticks. 

Such experiences have given Alderweireld the ingredients to become an archetypal modern defender. 

Understandably, Southampton want to hold onto the 26-year-old, for whom the club has a £5.6 million option to buy at the end of his current loan spell, per ESPN FC. Additionally, Matt Law of The Telegraph has reported that both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City are interested in signing the Belgium international if he becomes available.

But it's Atletico who control the situation, given that Southampton's option to buy can be "over-ridden by a £1.5 million penalty clause which Atletico can activate." And earlier this month, Atletico Madrid sporting director Jose Luis Caminero clearly outlined his club's intention to do just that, per AS (h/t ESPN FC):

"We are very happy with the development shown by Alderweireld and Oliver [Torres] for example—both players are enjoying a great season with their respective clubs and we are counting on both players for next season." 

Should Alderweireld return to the Vicente Calderon as expected, it will be a major boost for Atleti. In the Belgian, they'll be getting a player whose background has been formed by two outstanding footballing cultures and whose breakout season has occurred amid the ultra-competitive rigours of the Premier League. 

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

Indeed, with the Atletico loanee playing a big part, Koeman's Southampton have built the tightest defence in England's top division this season, conceding just 22 goals in 32 games. From an organisational standpoint, the Saints have been hugely impressive, but what's also been notable is the expansive attacking game we've witnessed at St Mary's. 

Even after the wave of key departures last summer, Koemen's men have moved the ball swiftly, been positionally fluid and have pressed intensely. Key to that has been Alderweireld's capacity to play it out from the back while also being a source of strength and reliability up against the league's potent attacks (he ranks first among Southampton's players for both blocks and clearances per game, according to WhoScored.com).

Yet there's also another aspect to Alderweireld's expected return to Atletico—the financial side. 

Though Atletico Madrid is a club steadily rising up the European ladder, the cold truth is that Los Colchoneros still have to sell to move forward. As noted by Graham Hunter for ESPN FC, Atleti are more than €500 million in debt and in the midst of repaying a hefty sum of unpaid taxes. 

Thus, the recalling of the Belgian from Southampton would allow Simeone and the club's hierarchy to consider offers for Brazilian centre-back Miranda, a player Transfermarkt values at almost £20 million and who has attracted interest from Chelsea and Manchester United, per AS.

Develop the future stars, and sell the established ones: that's the Atletico model.  

Geert Vanden Wijngaert/Associated Press

But pleasingly, in this instance, Atleti wouldn't be losing anything.

In Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez, two outstanding central defenders will remain at the Calderon, with another, just 26 and bred by the two desirable and influential footballing cultures pointed out by Koeman, set to join them. All, potentially, at a net profit.

Whichever way you look at, Alderweireld's return would be a significant boost for Simeone's Atleti. 

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