Why Diego Simeone Can Steer Atletico Madrid Through Their Transfer Ban Unharmed

You get the feeling that Diego Simeone loves a challenge, and so that trademark, slightly maniacal grin probably spread across the Argentinian’s face on Thursday afternoon.

That was when FIFA announced that Simeone’s Atletico Madrid—along with city rivals Real—have been “slapped” (to use football terminology) with a transfer ban for the next two windows after the current one, i.e. the summer of 2016 and then January 2017.

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Both capital clubs are appealing the sanctions, and in truth, it would be a bit of a surprise if some element of the punishment—which was issued for signing foreign players under the age of 18 without the proper registration process being followed—wasn’t overturned. For now, though, the pair will have to take their medicine.

Somewhat predictably, the news has prompted feverish speculation surrounding Real, with ESPN FC citing reports linking them with January moves for Eden Hazard, David De Gea, Paul Pogba, Robert Lewandowski and Sergio Aguero, and the Daily Star throwing in Harry Kane and John Stones for good measure. Where they’re all expected to fit in is anybody’s guess.

But while Real remain one of the favourites of the click bait generation, Atletico’s interests go largely unreported, and it’s probably going to stay that way.

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The sensationalist headlines surrounding transfers in and out won’t be repeated with Simeone’s club, who have already strengthened in this January window, perhaps in the knowledge of what was to come.

As the BBC’s Spanish football writer Andy West put it, few clubs “could be better placed to absorb a transfer ban” than Atletico, who sit on top of the Liga table thanks to the fine performances of a squad packed with young talents.

West cites some of those young players and also points to the business that Atletico have already done this month, adding:

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[They boast] a deep squad and arguably the most talented batch of young players in Europe.

Goalkeeper Jan Oblak (23), centre-back Jose Maria Gimenez (20), midfielders Saul Niguez and Oliver Torres (both 21), and forwards Angel Correa (20), Luciano Vietto and Yannick Carrasco (both 22) are already established members of the squad.

And perhaps as an indication that they had seen this news coming, they further strengthened in early January with the arrival of two central midfielders: Augusto Fernandez from Celta Vigo and Matias Kranevitter from River Plate.

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And both players have slotted into life at the new club well, with Kranevitter starting both legs of the Copa del Rey win over Rayo Vallecano and the more experienced Fernandez helping his new club to win at the home of his old one on his La Liga debut for Atletico against Celta last Sunday.

The summer’s big signing, forward Jackson Martinez from Porto, hasn’t quite settled in the way that many would have hoped—managing just three goals in his first 21 appearances for the club—but the 29-year-old is too good a player to give up on. The ban should ensure that Simeone sticks by him, while keeping an eye on the development of young forward Borja Baston, who has hit 11 goals on loan at Eibar this season and is primed for a return to the capital in the summer.

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Should the ban remain in place and Atletico are unable to sign any players until the summer of 2017 then there will be concerns and dilemmas at the club, of course, but if anything, Simeone will look to use the ban to further strengthen the tight bond within his squad.

With money saved due to a lack of outgoings, the club could also afford to offer the type of contract offer to Antoine Griezmann that could convince the Frenchman to stay at the Vicente Calderon and ignore the riches on offer elsewhere.

So while the ban, in its current form, could be inducing panic elsewhere in Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu, it should be viewed as more of an opportunity than a crisis at Atletico.

Simeone, if anything, will relish the challenge that it brings.

That grin will only be getting broader.