CHAMPIONS LEAGUE | BREAKOUT STARS
Mario Hermoso
(Atletico Madrid)A
s an iron-clad rule, ever-combative
Atleti coach Diego Simeone has no
room in his squad for individuals who
shirk a trial by fire – and that’s the
last accusation you could throw at the capital
club’s new centre-back, who arrived from
Espanyol in mid-July for €25m.
The huge task of stepping into the shoes of
long-serving Uruguayan stopper Diego Godin- who, after nine seasons plugging gaps in the
Rojiblanco rearguard, moved to Internazionale
this summer – would be enough to unnerve
many a potential replacement.
Not, however, the 24-year-old, who genuinely
appears to relish the challenge.
“I don’t see Godin’s legacy, the work he put
in at Atletico, as a reason to be scared,” he says.
“I believe the opposite; that it gives you the
motivation to carry on developing and improving.”
Hermoso, capped three times by Spain at
senior level and also able to operate as a left-
back, settled in with ease during pre-season.
A beast in the air,
intense, switched on
and especially astute
in his use of the ball,
he will add a much-
needed touch
of control and
sophistication
to Atletico’s back-line build-up play.
A born and bred Madrileno, Hermoso came
through the youth ranks at – whisper it gently - Real Madrid. He was on the Bernabeu books
from the age of 10 and was playing for their
reserve side as recently as the 2016-17
campaign. On loan the previous year at
second-tier Valladolid, he inked a three-year
deal with Espanyol in the 2017 close season.
“No one can change his past,” he says. “But
what you can try to do is create a better future.
All I want to do is to make history with Atletico.”
Ansu Fati
(Barcelona)
The second-youngest player ever to line up for
Barca, the 16-year-old Bissau-Guinean winger
made his debut in a 5-2 victory over Real Betis
in August. “He can bring things to the team that
we lack,” says coach Ernesto Valverde. “He’s
cheeky, speedy and uses space well.”
Mateo Garcia
(Red Star Belgrade)The little Argentinian right-winger made an
instant impact on signing for the Serb champions
in August from Las Palmas, scoring his first goal
in a play-off encounter against Young Boys. The
22-year-old enjoyed a productive loan spell in
the Greek Superliga with Aris last term.Miguel Angel Guerrero
(Olympiakos)In-form Spanish striker who was highly influential
in the qualifying campaign, scoring against
Viktoria Plzen and Krasnodar. Bullish and
combative, the 29-year-old used to play in
his homeland for Albacete, Gijon and Leganes.
Moved to Greece at the start of last season.“No one can change his past.
But what you can try to do is
create a better future. All I want to
do is to make history with Atletico”