Thomas Lemar has barely had an influence on Atlético’s game in this first half of the season. The French midfielder has played nine league games and two in the Champions League, with a poor background, only two assists in 494 minutes of competition. Some numbers very far from a player with an important technical quality but with little prominence in Simeone’s team. The lesions. It is true that injuries have weighed him down and have prevented him from offering the expected level. When he has been good, he has been an almost undisputed starter. Now, Lemar starts from scratch. Outside of the World Cup, the Frenchman trains in Madrid to recover his best level.
The midfielder was injured in the league match against Valencia, on matchday three of the championship. He did not play against Real Sociedad, he played 45 minutes against Celta, but he missed the games against Real Madrid and Sevilla. Against Rayo Vallecano he suffered a strained thigh and did not play against Betis and Cádiz either. That is to say, he could barely have regularity and his team accused him.
At 27, he knows that it is an important campaign for him. He renewed with the Cívitas Metropolitano entity until 2027, although every summer there are many rumors about his future. The interest of some clubs have never materialized and Simeone has breathed. Facing the remaining 24 league games, Cholo knows that Lemar could be his signing in the winter market.
Kondogbia has practically been a starter this season, Koke couldn’t achieve regularity either, because he was injured, De Paul played almost everything, but not at the expected level and Griezmann, in this new position inside, has been the one who has offered some fantasy and clarity in the center of the field. Cholo awaits Lemar. And the French want to claim. These weeks will serve as a second preseason and to acquire a good physical level for the remainder of the season.
