Arda Turan Exit Will Hurt Atletico Madrid More Than Diego Costa's Departure Did

There comes a time in a player’s career when he should sit down, take a breath and take stock, even if it is increasingly difficult to find a window in today’s hectic schedule. That moment has arrived for Arda Turan, much to the disappointment of his club, Atletico Madrid.

Arda’s agent Ahmet Bulut, speaking to Turkish television channel NTV Spor this weekend, described breaking the news that his client wanted to leave to the 2014 La Liga champions “a big shock to them” (via Marca’s English version). According to Reuters (h/t the Guardian), the player himself later tweeted that Bulut was in discussion with “3-4 clubs," with a decision apparently imminent.

With the season over, and the player now 28, Arda and Bulut had found time for "the chat." As Bulut put it, “we sat down to look at the plan for Arda’s career.” Or, as Marca put it, the Turkish midfielder is simply tired, with his body beginning to pay the bill for coach Diego Simeone’s ultra-demanding approach.

“To earn more working less,” wrote the Madrid-based daily last week. “It’s the dream of a lot of people and among them, it seems, is Arda Turan.” It’s a catchy way of packaging Arda’s sentiment, albeit a totally unfair one.

Few have given more to Simeone’s cause than the popular Arda. He arrived at the Calderon four years ago as a precocious winger, but he has been so much more than that in soaring way above expectations. There was plenty of pressure on a player who struggled to deal with it in his younger days at Galatasaray, as he pitched up as the most expensive Turkish player ever at €12 million, according to FIFA.com.

There can be no such things as solely fair players in the coach’s plan, and Arda hasn’t been one. As combative as any of the cast at Simeone’s disposal, he has picked up 33 bookings during his four seasons in the red and white stripes. To add to the dribbling and poise that had always thrilled fans was an incredible, burrowing persistence.

Paul White/Associated Press/Associated Press

Arda’s refusal to be beaten became synonymous with the difficulties that Atletico came to pose for neighbours Real Madrid. After breaking their lengthy drought against El Real in the 2013 Copa del Rey final—in which Arda played a full part—he developed into a talisman for the irritation Atleti caused Jose Mourinho and Co.

That was never clearer than last year. The first 10 minutes of the 2014 Champions League final will always be remembered for the plainly unfit Diego Costa limping off and exiting a match he should never have started. Yet, there was a huge Arda-shaped hold in Simeone’s side, as he missed the game altogether. His energy was badly missed as Atleti wilted in the closing stages, just failing to close out the win as they conceded that heartbreaking late goal scored by Sergio Ramos.

In mid-September, Atleti were back bossing the Bernabeu—with Arda, inevitably, coming on as substitute to hit a second-half winner. Even as physically compromised as he was that night, he was an indomitable, and decisive, figure.

That level of commitment has clearly taken its toll, and Arda has taken the initiative. His last contract renewal, signed in September 2013, as per AS, tied him to the club until summer 2017 and set his buyout clause at €41 million. That figure is as close as a Premier League club will get to a bargain for a world-class performer in an age when the whole world knows about the television rights money burning a hole in their pockets.

Whichever club he ends up serving will be lucky to have him—he's a perfect amalgam of industry and inspiration. He suits the Premier League (which is his aim, as noted in the aforementioned Reuters report) down to the ground. It is ironic that the demands of Simeone, which raised Arda’s game to a higher level, are exactly what’s now pushing him away. His passion, as well as his flair, means Atletico will miss him even more than they have Costa.