Atletico Madrid defender Stefan Savic admits the La Liga champions were surprised to see Kieran Trippier return to the Premier League with Newcastle United in the transfer window, speaking to AS.
With Trippier potentially sidelined for the remainder of the season with a fractured metatarsal, Newcastle are facing up to the prospect of stepping onto the blood-soaked relegation battlefield without one of their most reliable foot-soldiers.
But Newcastle are not the only side pining for the £12 million England international.
Atletico Madrid reluctantly sold Trippier last month, allowing the former Tottenham Hotspur, Man City and Burnley man to return home just a few months after playing a starring role as Diego Simeone’s side won their first La Liga title since 2014.
“It has changed us, that’s for sure,” admits Savic, Atletico’s veteran centre-half.
“The truth is that we did not expect him to leave. But he had the opportunity (to sign for Newcastle) and we have to accept it.”
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Atletico did sign Daniel Wass from Valencia as a replacement for Trippier.
But Wass, like the versatile Spain international Marcos Llorente, is arguably at his most effective in a box-to-box midfield role than on the right-hand side of defence.
Srme Vrsaljko, meanwhile, looks a shadow of the man who shattered English hearts at the 2018 World Cup.
“We have brought in Wass, who was unlucky enough to get injured in his first game,” Savic adds.
Even if Wass is available, he’d have to sit out the Champions League clash with Ralf Rangnick’s Manchester United anyway due to suspension.
“And we have Vrsaljko, who is an important player for us. Now he is well physically and can help us a lot.
“We also have Llorente, who can contribute. And, with the return of Wass, we will be well covered in that position.”
Well covered, yes. But severely lacking the star quality Trippier brought to Simeone’s side.
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