Why Diego Godin Will Spend 3 More Seasons at Atletico Madrid
Diego Godin has been one of the foundations that Atletico Madrid's success over the last few years has been founded on, with the Uruguayan central defender long established as one of the most consistent and impressive individuals in his position anywhere in the world.
It has naturally led to speculation from time to time that he would be leaving the club, with other big sides with more financial muscle than Atletico looking to take advantage and pay top dollar for him, but Godin remains in place and shows no inclination to depart the Vicente Calderon.
The same process could be repeated this summer if he again impresses at the Copa America: big club realises they need a top defender, Godin's form sparks rumours, Godin's actions shut them down. He seems set to remain at Atleti and supporters of Los Rojiblancos can be optimistic of seeing Godin in their shirt for at least another two or three seasons.
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Faith and happiness
For some players, it's all about the big-club prestige, others want to chase trophies, further others yet paychecks or minutes on the pitch. There is no single right answer about where a player should play out the best days of his career, so the individual inevitably moves around several times, looking for a team he can feel settled in and, if they are of a certain level, contribute to winning trophies with.
Diego Godin has all of that at Atletico, with a top manager, a big contract and the adoration and admiration from the fans and those in La Liga to boot.
One of the captains of the team along with Gabi, Godin's place in the side is assured, and he signed a one-year extension up to 2019 last summer to prolong his stay. To emphasise just how much the new deal was on his terms, Godin turned down a £28 million move to Manchester City, where he could likely have doubled his huge wages had he so desired, to remain in place at the Calderon.
It's not just about new contracts, though; Godin has previously spoken about how he "identifies" with the club and feels at home.
Simeone and the team
Three years is a long time in football, but there's plenty of reason to imagine why he could remain at the club that length of time.
Next season seems obvious; Atleti are close to challenging Barcelona for La Liga, lacking perhaps another goalscorer and a little more depth in midfield, but they're not a million miles away. If Atletico manage to keep together the majority of the team after the end of this season, they will be a real contenders next term. This season, meanwhile, conquering Europe is still a possibility.
Last summer, Diego Simeone named only Godin and Koke as "non-transferable" and, toward the end of 2015, called Godin the best defender in La Liga and suggested both he and Antoine Griezmann should have been in the running for the Ballon d'Or.
The trust, link and belief in each other between manager and defender is obvious and paramount to the ongoing stability of the team.
Within the XI itself, Godin is a complete leader. He organises the defence, communicates with everybody and the entire defensive framework is well-settled and routine, when all are fit and available: a first-choice goalkeeper, a regular back four (plus one extra in Stefan Savic) and Gabi as the holder in front. Much of the rest of the side rotates and revolves, but that six is set largely in stone.
Godin is also partnered most often by Josema Gimenez, a tremendously talented and close to complete defender who is also his team-mate on the national-team level. The Uruguayan duo are afforded that rarest of chances to develop a partnership with both club and country, and it can only help both to be more consistent.
There's little reason to suspect that even after next season, heading into 2017-18, Godin will suddenly see a sea-change in mentality or reasons to want to leave. Beyond a couple of seasons is certainly more murky waters, both with the manager in charge who trusts him implicitly and with how the football landscape as a whole changes, but Godin seems a safe bet to be one of those who lingers longest at Atletico.
Beyond
After three years, there's little room to argue that much of the above could still apply to Atletico. Simeone could still be the boss, the current young crop of players could have grown into top-class La Liga stars and Atleti still fighting for honours.
If that turns out to be the case, a then-33-year-old Godin would be firmly in the veteran stage—but by no means too old for team managed by Simeone. Current captain Gabi will turn that age in summer and is set to renew and stay at the club, while Tiago is already 34.
While growing a new young team is Simeone's principle objective, he has always wanted the wise old heads in his squad to guide the younger players, showing the necessary aggression and consistency.
Godin could easily prolong his time at Atletico, even if it means he becomes part of the rotation scene with Gimenez partnered by somebody new, or a complete regeneration of the defence takes place with Godin overseeing it as the established senior.
Beyond the three seasons, it's tough to predict anything in the inherent nature of change within football, but Atleti fans should rest assured that the towering pillar of strength at the back will be sticking around for a while to come yet.
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