David Villa: Why the Striker Means

Everything to Atletico Madrid

By Tim Stannard
(Featured Columnist) on July 16, 2013

Getting anyone to move anywhere in Madrid before 11 at night is an ordeal due to the mindmelting heat. The fact that 20,000 sweating, sweltering supporters trekked down to the
Vicente Calderon stadium on Monday evening to see a small footballer with an even smaller
beard wandering around a pitch shows how really, really, really important David Villa is to
Atletico Madrid.
The transfer of the forward from Barcelona to the Rojiblancos for a fee worth a maximum of
5.1 million saw hats tossed into the air in joy in the Atletico world. Villa is seen as the
perfect player to fill the void of Falcao, the latest in a long line of strikers to leave the
Calderon. The signing of the Asturian helps to ease a fear that Atleticos claim as Spains
third force in Spanish football is a temporary affair. The national sides most prolific striker in
the colours of the club shows that Atletico are here to stay.

Of course, in many other leagues a desire to be the third strongest side and nothing more does
not seem that ambitious. However, that is the most realistic aim for Atletico in La Liga with
the behemoths of Barcelona and Real Madrid too far ahead to ever be caught. The deal is
well judged by Atletico, writes Alfredo Relano, the editor of AS the day after Villas
presentation, one year, then another, then another. Not much cash up front, in case it doesnt
work, though the general impression is that it will. The signing has the Atletico fans
excited, adds Relano.
The relative lack of cash needed by Atletico to bring the 31-year-old to the Calderon is
certainly one area in which there is cause for celebration. What is also causing such a buzz is
the fact that Villa is still seen as a top-class footballer in Spain and an enormously good catch.
I am going to try and give Atletico Madrid the very best David Villa, promised the striker at
Mondays press conference. I am fully motivated and will work my socks off in every
training session, added Villa, whose presence on the practice pitches will give an enormous
lift to teammates.
Twenty league goals or more in the season to come for the former Barca man would not be
too lofty a hope for Atletico supporters. After all, Villa is going to be forming part of what
could be a very tasty forward line in the new season. Diego Simeone may well be selecting a
furious four in the campaign to come with Villa leading the offense as the No. 9.

Support from the flanks could come from another new arrival: Leo Baptistao, with Arda
Turan, ably assisting. The combativea euphemism for dirty if ever there was oneDiego
Costa could be Villas backup in the No. 10 role. It is an attack that is thrilling indeed and will
be a challenge for most defenses in the Champions League, another key competition for
Atletico Madrid next season.
Villas arrival to Atletico gives the Rojiblancos genuine reasons for optimism for the
campaign to come. For a pessimistic club support that can all too often see glasses of water as
empty, even when full to the brim, that feeling is worth half the transfer fee alone.