“Koke, Godin and that’s about it.”

Those were Diego Simeone’s words to Marca in June, when the Atletico Madrid manager was asked which members of his squad were untouchable—not for sale. The extensive list, featuring all of two names, was first revealing and then logical, giving insight into how the Argentinian likes to build his teams and how he perceives his side’s identity.

In Koke, Simeone has the man he wants to lead his midfield, a precocious, humble and fiercely loyal star, a Colchonero through and through. In Diego Godin, he has the pillar of his defence, perhaps the finest centre-back in Europe. Marca calls him one of Simeone’s “lieutenants.”

Koke had been wanted by Barcelona and Chelsea but told AS, “I’ll play here.” One box ticked.

Godin was then chased by Manchester City, with big money on the table. But Atletico are winning that battle, too, with Godin closing in on a new deal—the second and final box almost ticked as well. 

If the Uruguayan’s new contract is made official in the coming days, as Marca suggests, it will cap off an almost flawless summer at the Vicente Calderon.

In addition to fending off interest for Koke and Godin, Simeone and Co. have held on to star forward Antoine Griezmann, emerging defender Jose Gimenez and promising gloveman Jan Oblak. In doing so, Atleti have protected their spine—the very thing they were robbed of in the corresponding period last year.  

Atleti’s summer that has gone from strength to strength has also featured more than just the retention of key faces; the club’s transfer business, both in buying and selling, has been nothing short of exceptional.

Naturally, the incoming stars have been much discussed, the likes of Jackson Martinez, Luciano Vietto and Yannick Carrasco giving Simeone genuine fire power, while the acquisitions of Stefan Savic and Filipe Luis have addressed the only other areas of need in the squad. But just as notable has been Atleti’s success in negotiating deals for outgoing players. 

Consider Guilherme Siqueira. The Brazilian is on his way to Juventus in a loan move that will become a €10 million (£7 million) permanent transfer at the end of next season, per Goal.com. For a player who endured a rather torrid season in 2014-15 it’s a notable sum, Atleti recouping every cent they outlaid on the left-back last summer. And Siqueira isn’t the only one. 

Atleti received a similar figure from Fiorentina for Mario Suarez, per Transfermarkt, the deal helping to facilitate Savic’s move the other way. Mario Mandzukic has also switched to Serie A, Los Colchoneros receiving £13.3 million—essentially the cost of Vietto—for the Croatian who became an awkward fit in Simeone’s system. 

Elsewhere, the club managed to sell Miranda to Inter Milan for a fee that will eventually become £8.4 million, cashing in on a 30-year-old defender who has a patchy recent injury history and who Atletico signed on a free transfer in 2011. They also avoided a potential mess with Southampton over the sale of Toby Alderweireld to Tottenham Hotspur for £11.2 million. And though waving goodbye to Arda Turan was difficult, almost £24 million from Barcelona will have softened the blow. 

What it all means is that even after signing Martinez (£24.5 million), Vietto (£14 million), Carrasco (£14 million), Savic (£17.5 million) and Luis (£11.2 million), Atletico’s net spend this summer has been just over £20 million, per Transfermarkt, once Siqueira’s deal is considered. And the club has retained Koke, Griezmann, Gimenez, Oblak and most likely Godin as well. 

As such, the noises currently emanating from the Vicente Calderon are in stark contrast to those of this time last year. “It’s going to be hard to be repeat what we achieved last season,” was Gabi’s message last July, “because Barcelona and Real Madrid have bigger budgets, are spending more on players and have great squads.”

There was a resignation in the captain after watching the 2013-14 squad dismantled, his sentiment mirrored by Miguel Angel Moya, who said third or fourth was “our place.”

Now, though, it’s very different. “I believe that this season we can compete with Real Madrid and Barcelona,” Koke told i3 Sports earlier this month, per Goal. He might be right; they potentially can. 

After an almost flawless summer, Atletico Madrid have arguably the most talented squad they’ve had in decades.

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