According to reports, Atletico Madrid are quite interested in bringing Jamie Vardy to Vicente Calderon this summer after the English striker impressed against them in the Champions League quarter-final. The 30-year-old Premier League winner has had an underwhelming season this year following the title success last season and it is possible that he considers this move.
Diego Simeone has had a fruitless season this year with the Rojo Blancos out of every possible silverware race. They are aiming for a third place finish this season, which guarantees them Champions League football and it is the only success Simeone could count on. However, that could be enough to lure Vardy to Spain.
With the 2018 World Cup around the corner, next season will be hugely important for the English striker. And what better platform than the elite European tournament to prove yourself. With Leicester City, out of the Champions League next season, Vardy will only have the Premier League to play for. And with Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United all planning to come back stronger with huge reinforcements, Leicester’s chances are extremely slim.
Staying in the limelight would be important for Vardy, and a couple of important goals against Real Madrid and Barcelona will definitely cement his place in World Cup squad, where Vardy is competing with the likes of Harry Kane, Jermain Defoe, Wayne Rooney, Theo Walcott and more.
Antoine Griezmann has been heavily linked with a move away from Atletico Madrid at the end of the season, with Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille and more European clubs after him. Simeone will have to fill the void with some vibrant options alongside Fernando Torres and Kevin Gameiro, and Vardy along with AS Lyon’s Lacazette are prime targets for the Argentine.
Another huge reason for Vardy to move would be age. Even at 30, he still hugely relies on pace and finishing to get his goals, an attribute that could only help him for the next three years at best. A late bloomer, Vardy would want to end his professional career on a high. And interestingly, Atletico Madrid’s style of playing might suit him quite well.
Simeone plays the waiting game, where the team presses high up the field and takes advantage of the slightest of the mistakes from the opponents. And this needs agile forwards, who can find spaces behind the centre-halves who are not afraid to take shots from any range whatsoever. Vardy is the exact candidate they need.
And it could be safely said that Atletico will have to retain Simeone to bring out the best from him. Vardy had scored 24 goals in 36 league games last year and Ranieri trying to tweak the tactics resulted in a discouraging season for him this year with 12 goals in 32 outings. Hence, Simeone’s availability at the helm will be quintessential.
