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Nico Gonzalez set for Atlético stay as Juve talks progress - report

· Yahoo Sports

ELCHE, SPAIN - APRIL 22: Nicolas Gonzalez of Atletico de Madrid celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Elche CF and Atletico de Madrid at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero on April 22, 2026 in Elche, Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Atlético de Madrid are close to reaching a new agreement with Juventus for Nico Gonzalez as the Argentina attacker nears a permanent transfer to remain under Diego Simeone’s orders in Spain.

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Matteo Moretto reported on YouTube that Atlético are in advanced negotiations with Juve for Nico’s transfer, which would be worth around €27/28 million, including bonuses. That figure represents only a €5 million discount from the €32 million buy obligation clause that Juve included in Nico’s loan out of Turin last summer.

Atlético had made it clear for months that they would not pay the full €32 million to sign Nico permanently, even though the 28-year-old was one of Cholo Simeone’s most-used players during the first half of this season. Nico suffered a hamstring injury at Girona four days before Christmas, and his playing time has been reduced in the second half of the season as Atlético tried to avoid triggering the clause; he suffered a season-ending muscle injury when he miskicked a ball in training the day before Atleti hosted Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League semifinals, which rendered those efforts moot.

For the season, Nico scored five goals (all in LaLiga) across 37 games in all competitions. Simeone got the most out of the player’s versatility, using him as a left-winger, a left-back, a left wing-back and as right-sided attacking midfielder. Four of Nico’s five goals — his doubles against Real Sociedad and Elche — came when he played on the right.

Nico is a useful option who can complete Atleti’s squad and compete for a place on either flank, and he is a left-footed attacker in a squad that might lose two of them this summer in Antoine Griezmann and Alexander Sørloth. He has his virtues as a player, and Simeone loves the versatility he brings; he started over Álex Baena, last summer’s star signing, for much of the season.

But holy overpay, Batman! Even understanding that Juventus had to make back at least €20 million in any renegotiated Nico deal to avoid a loss on their already-delicate books, for Atlético to retain him for a fee in excess of €25 million hardly looks like a negotiating masterclass from Mateu Alemany and Miguel Ángel Gil.

My (somewhat educated) guess is that Atlético are getting a break from Juventus on the payment terms, in addition to a small discount on the buy obligation clause; the new fee might be payable over four or even five years instead of three. I wouldn’t be shocked then if Nico ends up signing a four- or five-year contract, because that would indicate the payment schedule. I’d argue though that signing a player with a low ceiling and a high floor to a long-term contract is antithetical to enjoying an ambitious first summer transfer window under new majority shareholders Apollo Sports Capital.

Moral of the story? I think Atleti need to stop doing deals with Italian clubs. I’m tired.

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