Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has made Manchester City target Fabinho his top priority for this summer.
According to a report by The Sun, Atletico Madrid are eyeing Manchester City target Fabinho for a summer swoop while awaiting the outcome of their appeal to a transfer ban imposed on them by FIFA for breaking regulations on signing youth players.
If the suspension gets lifted, Diego Simeone will prioritize signing Monaco’s £25 million-rated Brazilian midfielder Fabinho.
The 23-year-old Fabinho started his professional career with the La Liga champions Real Madrid and made his debut in 2012. He left Los Blancos for Monaco back in 2015, but it in their title-winning season this time that his talents have truly blossomed.
At the Santiago Bernabeu, he was a true-blue right-back but then he moved forward and started playing in the defensive midfield area for Monaco and has truly excelled for them, and became a key member of their squad.
While Kylian Mbappe’s goals have stolen the headlines, Fabinho has been a similar crucial element in the midfield. His performances have been greatly noticed by Pep Guardiola and Diego Simeone. Jose Mourinho is also said to be keen on the youngster after handing him his professional debut at Real Madrid.
Diego Simeone is preparing to lose Tiago this summer and wants to sign Fabinho as a direct replacement. Fabinho can enjoy a more central role in Atletico Madrid, but it remains to be seen if the midfielder will be open to a move away from the newly-crowned champions.
As far as Manchester City are concerned, the Brazilian can play either as a defender or in the midfield. Guardiola will benefit from his services especially since Pablo Zabaleta is slated to leave in the summer and he is on the look-out for a quality right-back.
The ease with which Fabinho can adjust to a variety of positions is something Guardiola values in his players, but with Atletico Madrid emerging as the front-runners, the manager will have to work hard to lure the Brazilian midfielder to the Etihad.
