115 million euros with no trophy - Atletico's failings

Last summer was supposed to be one of promise for Atletico Madrid. With the Champions League being held at their very own Wanda Metropolitano and a certain Cristiano Ronaldo leaving their arch rivals, it seemed things were looking up for Atletico.

However, the last week has all but destroyed that sentiment, a disastrous 3-0 defeat to Juventus, in which Ronaldo himself bagged a crucial hat-trick, saw them knocked out of the Champions League at the last 16 stage, looking tired and lethargic and seemingly lacking in ideas. The same thing appeared to happen at San Mames yesterday afternoon as Atletico slumped to a 2-0 defeat to Bilbao at San Mames, leaving them 10 points behind league leaders Barcelona.

The week also saw their Star man and World cup winning forward, Antoine Griezmann, consider his future and their are now increasing rumours that he will be leaving the club in the summer. Griezmann costs Atletico 20 million euros a season after big financial backing to keep him there last summer, but this season Griezmann has been lacking in the goals department, and is without a goal for a month. 

In terms of signings, Atletico spent an astonishing 115 million euros in the summer, which brought in 5 players - Thomas Lemar, Rodrigo, Santiago Arias, Gelson Martins and Nikola Kalinic. They then brought Alvaro Morata back on loan from Chelsea in January, yet none of these players have had the desired effect.

It is too early to judge Morata, but the same cannot be said for the others. Lemar cost Atletico 70 million Euros when they brought him in from AS Monaco, yet he has struggled to perform at the desired level and has been heavily criticized after every game he plays. The only one to demonstrate his worth to the club has been Rodrigo, indispensable for Simeone in the middle of the field, to the point when his prescence is really missed when he is not there. The fact still remains though, this is a project without the desired results.

Arias has been used only off the bench, Kalinic has been used sparingly and Gelson Martins has found himself on loan at AS Monaco to try to find some sort of confidence, thus people are left questioning the transfer policy of Atletico.