A direct transfer between Real and Atlético? It's extremely rare … And yet it happened. Madrid supporters already ignite.
It is a movement which, in Madrid, triggers as much surprise as indignation. A player trained at Real has just passed directly to the sworn enemy. An extremely rare scenario in the history of the Spanish capital, and which revives tensions between the two rivals.
Real loses a young talent for the benefit of Atlético
The player in question is called Mario de Luis. Spanish international guardian U21, he played last season with Castilla, the Real Madrid reserve team. At the end of the contract,
He decided to freely join Atlético. It will first be recorded with the B team led by Fernando Torres. This departure, even if it does not concern a framework of the professional workforce, is nonetheless symbolic, as these direct transfers are taboo.
The latest? That of Marcos Llorente, in 2019, who had left Real for Atlético against around 35 million euros. Before him, only five players had made the big leap online since 1985. Each time, the transfer had fueled the controversy: Theo Hernández, Santiago Solari, Bernd Schuster … So many names reminiscent that the rivalry between the two clubs greatly exceeds the sports framework.
A broken pact and a disturbing transfer
Internally, no official Real communication on this departure. On the Atlético side, the arrival of De Luis is greeted with enthusiasm. The player, trained at Fábrica, also experienced loans to Avileés and Xerez, before establishing himself as a regular element under the orders of Raúl. At 23, he comes to strengthen a pool of young people on which Atlético intends to rely in the upcoming seasons.
That this transfer concerns a free player does not, however, not his symbolic significance. The border between the two Madrid clubs remains highly flammable. And even a simple U21 goalkeeper is enough to turn on the wick.
