Atletico Madrid will reportedly look to beat Barcelona in the race to sign 24-year-old Feyenoord midfielder Mats Wieffer.
According to a report by Spanish outlet SPORT, Mats Wieffer is the subject of interest from Atletico Madrid. The 24-year-old is also a target for reigning La Liga champions Barcelona. But the Catalan giants are running out of time to sign him from 2022/23 Eredivisie winners Feyenoord.
The Rise of Mats Wieffer
Mats Wieffer has come leaps and bounds since joining Feyenoord from Exselcior in July 2022. A graduate of the FC Twente youth division, the Dutchman had to wait until moving to De Kuip to rise in prominence. And he hit the ground running as soon as the 2022/23 season began, becoming a pivotal figure for Feyenoord.
The 24-year-old was a pivotal figure as Feyenoord won the 2022/23 Eredivisie title. While he is a holding midfielder by trade, he can make line-breaking passes, making him a well-rounded player. Wieffer has turned out 60 times thus far for Feyenoord, chipping in with six goals and nine assists.
A Man in Demand
The player’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of many high-profile clubs. Recent reports have linked Mats Wieffer with Real Madrid. But he is also a target for reigning La Liga champions Barcelona, with Atletico Madrid becoming the latest club to join the chase.
Barcelona’s interest in Wieffer is understandable. The Blaugrana signed Oriol Romeu from Girona in the summer transfer window. But the veteran Spaniard has struggled to stamp his authority at the club and is a backup option. So, it behoves Barcelona to scour the market for a holding midfielder, and the Feyenoord star can be the ideal Sergio Busquets successor.
But the reigning La Liga champions are running out of time to sign Mats Wieffer, with Atletico Madrid laying the foundations to secure his services. Like Barcelona, the Colchoneros need to sign a defensive midfielder this year. The 24-year-old Dutch midfielder has thus emerged as a viable target.
Atletico Madrid might soon hijack Barcelona’s possible move for Wieffer. And unless the defending La Liga champions step up their efforts to sign the Dutchman, he will move to the Civitas Metropolitano.
