Who is Atlético Madrid’s best forward this season? In terms of impact averaged out over minutes on the pitch, the answer is Antoine Griezmann. Ángel Correa is proving useful, as he does every season, Matheus Cunha is bright if not a source of goals. Álvaro Morata continues to play more like the concept of Morata, a fascinating debate on the merits of forwards if you have time, rather than a goalscorer. And João Félix… sensational on the opening day, he has once again regressed into a moody stand-off with Diego Simeone. The correct answer though, is Samuel Lino.
A summer signing from Gil Vicente for a fee of €6.5m, he was spoken of highly during Atleti’s preseason but swiftly loaned out to Valencia for more minutes. Granted, Lino himself only has one goal to his name, but regular observers of Los Che can vouch for his effect on matches as a whole. Right-footed, playing on the left, the 21-year-old Brazilian has been providing the electricity to spark Gennaro Gattuso’s side into life this season.
Unbalancing the opposition, his age is no obstacle to his confidence. Abundantly aware of what his talents are, his pace and his swift cuts, in, out, and then again depending on which way the defender’s weight betrays him. Cutting inside is used all too often for blunt footballers, but Lino’s chops and slices are sharp movements. Comparisons to Vinícius Junior would be lazy – still, they share the ability to unbalance entire defences as well as just players, tilting the pitch downhill once they set off.
It is true that he could improve on making use of the space he creates when it comes to that decisive millisecond. Yet the underlying statistics are evidence of his impact. In Spain, he ranks fourth for carries into the final third, second for shot-creating actions and seventh out of the big five European leagues for carries into the penalty area, keeping him in company with Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Mohamed Salah. Lino’s work has led to three goals and he’ll argue he should have another after winning a penalty at the weekend, which Edinson Cavani blazed over. His goal? A brilliant one-two over the defence finished with a volley on the move.
A guaranteed starter under Gattuso, Hugo Duro and and Justin Kluivert have not come close to wrestling the left side off him, even with the addition of Cavani through the middle. So far, he can count himself amongst the most entertaining and important forwards in LaLiga.
The question asked at the start of this piece was put to the Twitterverse; Matt Clark astutely pointing out that Lino probably would not have received the freedom (nor the opportunities) under Diego Simeone. The young Brazilian is the very kernel at the centre of a coarse issue at Atlético Madrid.
Lino’s relatively small fee is the latest addition to the €243m that Los Colchoneros have spent on forwards since 2019. That accounts for 55% of their total spend over the same period. The fact of the matter is that the club itself and Simeone, perhaps not on purpose, continue to carry out opposing strategies. Atleti are not a side predicated on their attack, yet it represents the majority of their investment. Atleti undoubtedly have far more talent up front than in defence and yet Simeone has never fully committed to making it part of their personality – nor has he ever shown a talent for producing attacking football.
In Lino, Los Rojiblancos look as if they have found a rough diamond. The young Brazilian has shone. He has an increasingly rare talent and his presence alone is enough reason to tune into Valencia or turn up at Mestalla. At this point, it is fair to ask whether Atleti will know what to do with it next summer though. For this season at least, Gattuso will be the beneficiary of the Atlético’s good business.