Saturday, July 27, 2024, 12:37 PM
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Atlético de Madrid have officially announced the signing of centre-back Robin Le Normand from Real Sociedad. The agreement, valued at 34.5 million euros plus variables according to El Diario Vasco, was made public through a statement from the Madrid club. This signing marks the beginning of a new stage for the French defender, recently crowned champion of the European Championship with the Spanish national team.
Born in Pabu, France, Robin Le Normand has emerged as one of the most solid defenders in LaLiga in recent years. His exceptional performances at Real Sociedad, where he made 221 appearances since his promotion to the first team in 2019, led to him being called up to the Spanish national team in 2023. At the recent European Championship, Le Normand was a key player for Luis de la Fuente’s team, playing a total of 443 minutes and contributing significantly to their title win.
Le Normand’s arrival at Atlético de Madrid comes at a crucial time for the club, which is looking to strengthen its defence after a difficult 2023-24 season in which they conceded 68 goals in 54 games, the worst figure since Diego Pablo Simeone took over as coach. With the departure of Mario Hermoso and Stefan Savic, the signing of the Spanish international is presented as a high-quality solution to shore up the red-and-white rearguard.
Le Normand, with a market value of 40 million euros according to Transfermarkt, becomes the most valuable player in Atlético’s squad. His dominance in aerial duels, where he recorded 174 victories, and his ability in close combat, highlight him as one of the most effective defenders in the Spanish championship. These attributes were fundamental for Simeone to insist on signing him.
The agreement was reached thanks to the good relations between the boards of both clubs, facilitated by Miguel Ángel Gil and Jokin Aperribay. Although the negotiation started with an initial offer of 30 million euros from Atlético, the final figure was in line with the expectations of Real Sociedad, which requested around 40 million. Finally, the transfer was closed at 34.5 million euros, with the possibility of increasing by another 5 million euros in variables, according to El Diario Vasco.
Le Normand is on holiday
Atlético de Madrid shared the announcement on their social media in a discreet manner, without the traditional photographs of the player in the red and white shirt, since Le Normand has not yet started the preseason. “Atlético de Madrid and Real Sociedad have reached an agreement for the transfer of Robin Le Normand that will be formalized in the next few days, when the player returns from the vacation he is enjoying after being crowned champion of the European Championship with the Spanish national team on July 14,” the club announced.
Le Normand is currently enjoying a well-deserved holiday following his success at the European Championships and is expected to join Atlético’s pre-season training camp in the coming weeks. This signing is the first of what promises to be a busy summer for the Madrid club, who are looking to strengthen their squad in order to return to competing at the highest level in both LaLiga and European competitions.
Real Sociedad also said goodbye to Le Normand with an emotional message on social media, acknowledging his growth and thanking him for his contribution to the club. “His growth has been extraordinary and he leaves as an international with 221 official matches as a txuri urdin behind him, and the La Cartuja Cup in his honours list. We will always remember him for his sacrifice and gratitude to the colours that have made him the footballer he is today,” said the San Sebastian club.
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2024-07-27 10:37:42
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