The 2019 season of Atlético Mineiro was a disappointing one.
In a volatile year, the Belo Horizonte team from the state of Minas Gerais, had three coaches throughout the season, finishing only thirteenth in the Brasilierão. On the continental level, the team was eliminated in the Copa Libertadores' group stage of the and won the right to play in the Copa Sudamericana, where they couldn't progress beyond the semifinals. After such a bad year, the club's board decided to change.
On January 2020, the club brought in the promising Venezuelan coach, Rafael Dudamel.
But what could be the beginning of a new refreshing era for the team, has turned into a nightmare. Atlético were eliminated on penalties in the second round of the Copa do Brasil, against the unknown team - Afogados. In the Copa Sudamericana, they were eliminated in the first round by Unión Santa Fé, from Argentina. After less than two months, at the end of February, the former Venezuelan national team coach was sacked, and the club had paid him a million-dollar compensation.
Still, Atlético Mineiro has decided to increase the investment in the team. Having only the Brazilian Championship and the final stages of the State Championship to play in 2020, the team has signed Jorge Sampaoli, who had been without a club since his departure from Santos. The Argentine coach had a good season in 2019 with the team from the state of São Paulo and had high demands to sign with the Galo.
With a salary of one million Reais a month, Sampaoli required that practically a series of reinforcements will be brought in. And, with the help of different investors such as Rubens Menin, owner of MRV Engenharia - a prominent Brazilian homebuilder and real estate company - Mineiro has done that.
At the beginning of the year, under Dudamel, the team had already brought in good players: promising left-back Guilherme Arana came on loan from Sevilla and midfielder Allan, who had a good season at Fluminense, also joined. Besides, striker Jefferson Savarino was acquired as well. However, during the pandemic forced break, the team has invested even more.
For the midfield, the team brought Léo Sena and Alan Franco. The first arrived after a good season in Goiás and attracted interest from several teams. The second is the up-and-coming Ecuadorian player, having a stand-out player at Independiente Del Valle.
The team's wings were also reinforced. Keno, who got famous at Palmeiras, was signed from Egyptian project Pyramids. He is a player who can set a match on fire, bringing creative moves and quality dribbling. Another player hired to play wide was Marrony, who was showed promising skills at Vasco.
Finally, it was essential to add depth to the defence. Defender Bueno arrived on loan from Kashiwa Antlers, but the main highlight is Paraguayan Júnior Alonso. After playing last season on loan at Boca Juniors, the team paid Lille around 3 million euros to bring in the centre-back, who is likely to become the team's new sheriff.
Juniór Alonso. Galo’s new sheriff. (Photo: Atletico Mineiro Twitter)
Despite having already invested a lot, the team should bring even more reinforcements: names like the goalkeeper Martin Campaña, striker Nahuel Bastos and the winger Roger Guedes are a few of the rumoured players to join the club. The coming weeks Mineiro is likely to bring in more signings.
With such an upgraded and improved squad, Atletico Mineiro is expected to go far in Brasileirão 2020. Or in what has left from the tournament. Commentators in Brazil are already tipping them to be one of the teams that can rival the Flamengo. Having only one competition to compete in, the team has a considerable advantage. On the other hand, it seems that the club's board to have bet everything on coach Sampaoli's ability to manage, since this high investment is a hazardous move for a club whose finances are threatened by debt and the uncertainty of a global pandemic.
Sampaoli asked for reinforcements and got them. Atletico Mineiro has spent €8.5 million in the transfer market, during a global pandemic that is unsure what its outcomes will be. It is the only Brazilian clubs who bought players and not sold or loaned. The only Brazilian club with an expenditure line in their excels in 2020. Now, the fans of Atlético must hope that he can live up to expectations and bring titles to the club. If not, debts can hinder the Atletico Mineiro's future and, who knows, take it on the same path as its rival Cruzeiro, who invested a lot and now suffer in the second division.
Thumbnail photo via Atletico Mineiro's official site.
