EXCLUSIVE: Atletico Madrid want star defender Liverpool missed out on after £16m offer
Atletico Madrid hopeful of signing Braga centre-back David Carmo in the summer following Liverpool interest last season, TEAMtalk understands.
The 22-year-old has risen through the ranks at his current employers to become a vital figure in the current team. He made his first league start in February 2020 in a crunch match against Sporting and handled himself well.
Carmo subsequently kept his place in the team and started last season with 12 league appearances in the first 18 games.
That run led Carmo into February and through last term’s January transfer window. And TEAMtalk understands that Liverpool came close to signing him then.
The Reds offered an initial loan deal worth £3.5million and an option to buy worth £16million thereafter. Braga’s president admitted last April that Carmo had a “foot and a half at Liverpool”.
Soon after the January window, though, the centre-back suffered a nasty ankle injury in a challenge with Liverpool’s ex-Porto winger Luis Diaz. He only returned in February, but his suitors have not forgotten about him.
While Liverpool cooled their interest and instead signed Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig, TEAMtalk understands that Atletico are now firmly in the hunt for Carmo.
Indeed, they are one of a number of Spanish clubs keeping tabs on the Portuguese star.
He narrowly missed out on a spot in his country’s World Cup play-off squad for the recent international break.
However, he will be targeting a place in the final 23. Portugal beat North Macedonia to reach the finals in Qatar.
Carmo has represented Portugal at youth level and won the UEFA European Under-19 Championship in 2018.
He has played six straight Primeira Liga games and also featured in the Europa League following his comeback. He will likely feature in Braga’s quarter-final first leg against Rangers.
Atletico Madrid plot Carmo transfer
Atletico boss Diego Simeone prides himself on his side’s defensive tactics that have proved successful in recent seasons.
They famously knocked Liverpool out of the Champions League in 2020.
However, they have not had the same luck against Chelsea in 2021 and – so far – against Manchester City this time around.
Phil Foden unlocked the Atletico defence in Tuesday’s quarter-final first leg to give Pep Guardiola’s side a slim advantage.
As for Simeone’s key personnel at the back, Stefan Savic is 31 while Felipe is 32.
Meanwhile, Reinildo Mandava and Jose Gimenez are 28 and 27, respectively. As such, Carmo represents a younger centre-back who can learn from those moulded in Simeone’s ways.
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