3 Transfers that led to a split between Diego Simeone and Athletic Director of Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid will see the end of an era at the end of the calendar year, with Sporting Director Andrea Berta ending seven years of his reign at the Metropolitan. Berta will leave, with many citing the arrival of Football Director Carlos Bucero as a key factor.

Of course, Bucero seems to have been empowered to make decisions, and Relief reference that as part of Berta's decision. This summer Bucero was key in the arrival of Julian Alvarez, Robin Le Normand and Alexander Sorloth, although Bucero preferred Javi Guerra to Conor Gallagher.

They continued to say that there was also a growing rift between Diego Simeone and Berta. It can be best explained by three particular transfers. In 2021, Brazilian striker Marcos Paulo arrived, despite Simeone saying he was not a fan. Paul has not yet made his debut and has made various loan trips, but he still has 18 months left on his deal.

Second, Joao Felix – the Portuguese is perhaps a more predictable point of tension. Félix signed for 127 million euros, but never saw eye to eye with Simeone. Berta insisted that Simeone continued to try with Felix to get the best out of him because of the money they had invested, but Simeone's patience had long since run out.

Thirdly, the curious arrival of Arthur Vermeeren was the point of no return for Berta and Simeone. The Belgian teenager arrived for €22m last January as one of the hottest prospects in European football but has left on loan this summer to RB Leipzig, who are expected to make the deal permanent.

Vermeeren started only one match, and was removed at half time, the reason is that Simeone did not feel suitable to what he had asked for, and did not want the player. He preferred to sign Boca Juniors midfielder Alan Varela, who ended up moving to Porto for €12 million.

Simeone again proposed his signature in January, while Berta was more attentive to Samu Costa, Luis Milla, Morten Hjlumand and Jerdy Schouten.