News
SÁB 25.01.2025
This Saturday’s game between Atlético de Madrid and Villarreal CF will be an especially important one for Alexander Sørloth, the Norwegian striker who’ll play for Atleti and take on his former club. He arrived at Villarreal CF in the summer of 2023, after an impressive season with Real Sociedad, and had a great campaign with El Submarino Amarillo too by scoring 23 goals in LALIGA EA SPORTS, making him the second-top scorer of the season. His quick adaptation to the squad helped the club achieve many important victories. However, he left to join Atlético de Madrid ahead of this current season, and is helping the capital city side to fight for the title, as they currently sit in second place. Sørloth has become important for Diego Simeone, having netted eight league goals this term.
Another player who has played for both Villarreal CF and Atlético de Madrid is the current Ballon d’Or holder Rodri Hernández. The midfielder started out his career in Atlético de Madrid’s academy, before moving to join Villarreal CF, where he made his first appearances as a professional. After arriving in 2013, he quickly impressed and debuted with Marcelino García Toral at the age of 19. By impressing with El Submarino Amarillo, Rodri returned to Atlético de Madrid in 2018, and debuted with his new club on 15th August in the UEFA Super Cup, which the team won 4-2 against Real Madrid. He later moved on to Manchester City, but not before showing his obvious quality at both of these Spanish clubs.
One of the other great players who has been at both clubs is Diego Godín, the Uruguayan centre-back who impressed at Villarreal CF between 2007 and 2010. There, he became one of the best defenders in LALIGA EA SPORTS and this saw him make a move to Atlético de Madrid. At Los Rojiblancos, Godín became a legend and a pillar of the team at the start of the Diego Simeone era. He was a key part of several triumphs, scoring the decisive goal as Atleti won LALIGA EA SPORTS in 2013/14, while also winning three UEFA Super Cups (2010/11, 2012/13 and 2018/19), two Europa League titles (2011/12 and 2017/18), one Copa del Rey (2012/13) and one Spanish Super Cup (2014/15). He also scored in the 2014 Champions League final between Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid, and played in the 2016 final too.
Diego Forlán is another of the standout names who has made history at both Villarreal CF and Atlético de Madrid. The Uruguayan forward arrived at Villarreal CF in 2004, becoming the top scorer in LALIGA EA SPORTS in 2004/05 and winning that year’s Pichichi Trophy and the European Golden Shoe, while he later helped the team reach the semi-finals of the 2005/06 Champions League. In 2007, his success with El Submarino Amarillo allowed him to join Atlético de Madrid in 2007, and there he achieved even more glory, winning another Pichichi Trophy and the European Golden Shoe in 2008/09, while also lifting a Europa League trophy and UEFA Super Cup, and being named the best player of the 2010 World Cup while he was on Atleti’s books.
Joan Capdevila is another who left a mark at both Atlético de Madrid and Villarreal CF. He was one of the key players for Los Amarillos between 2007 and 2011, during one of their golden eras, standing out for his defensive prowess and ability to join the attack down the left flank. He’d also had a spell with Los Colchoneros earlier in his career, albeit a short one, and played in tournaments such as the UEFA Cup.
Brazilian forward Leo Baptistão arrived at Atlético de Madrid in 2013, after a great start to his career with Rayo Vallecano. However, his time at Atlético de Madrid was limited and he never quite cemented his status as a starter, even if he helped the team to win the 2013/14 LALIGA EA SPORTS title. The striker was loaned out on a few occasions, and played at Villarreal CF in 2015/16. There, he was an important member of the team’s attack and he went on to enjoy a good career, playing for other clubs such as RCD Espanyol, Santos FC and his current team UD Almería.
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