without making any kind of noise, Reinildo Mandava has put an end to what until now was considered a universal truth with Simeone: any newcomer, and more being a defender, has to spend a ‘mili’ and an adaptation process to settle in the eleven.
The Mozambican The last day of the winter transfer market arrived and he only needed five training sessions to debut as a rojiblanco. He entered the Camp Nou in the 55th minute with the match almost resolved for Barcelona in what looked like it would be a touchdown with the left back and a return to 4-4-2. Nothing to do with reality. six days later he would occupy that position again against Getafe, but as a starter playing the entire game. And Simeone was already seeing that his game characteristics, prioritizing defensive ability and with a fantastic physical level, imprinting intensity and strength on the team, they could play a much more important role in recovering the line from three behind.
Again in the eleven against Levante, without finishing well in Melero’s goal, Simeone moved the bench in the last moments in search of the tie and Reinildo was substituted at 78′. Those final twelve minutes were the last that Atlético played without the African. Since then, four complete matches against Osasuna, Manchester United, Celta and Betis where Cholo has already completely inserted Reinildo in the line of three central defenders and only the error in the English goal has penalized fundamental defensive features so that Atlético has recovered its essence.
A newcomer, but with cholista DNA that has helped close the bleeding behind. Unlike Hermoso, his main competitor, Reinildo has the ability to overlap and be almost insurmountable in melee a quality jump. He is aware that the ball is not his forte, but it has served to greatly improve the lane player who plays ahead, especially Lodi. Fast, attentive, sticky and good in the air, Reinildo has finished with the theoretical acclimatization at lightning speed.
The Mozambican adds 563 of the 630 minutes of Atlético since his arrival. Namely, 89% of the time the team has played since the beginning of February they have had Reinildo behind them. Signings are not remembered playing so much and so fast. With a low profile (reminiscent of arrivals as in their day Paulo Assunçao in the middle), and without trying to compete with winter signings of much more renown and price, Reinildo has been key to recovering athletic strength, who has conceded a goal in the last three league games. A newcomer to help return to being the usual. AND with humility as a flag to win over the locker room. Reinildo and Atlético, a symbiosis to everyone’s taste.