Marc Pubill is drawing praise for his performance in Atletico Madrid’s Champions League run, which ended last night against Arsenal.
Pubill was perhaps not known by many prior to last summer or even the past few weeks, but Atletico boss Diego Simeone has turned him into one of the most important players of the season, one that took them to the final four of Europe’s top competitions.
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The outpouring of praise on social media has been constant. Atleti Universe wrote: Only a matter of time until Marc Pubill becomes Atleti captain. A player who is only 22, been here for less than a year, didn’t play in the first half of the season, has understood what Atleti is. Someone we haven’t had since the Godin-Gabi era.”
Another medical story
On the day that Jean-Philippe Mateta spoke about his collapsed move to the Rossoneri, MilanVibes have also shared some background information on how Pubill could have ended up a Milan player too.
Just hours before the swoop from Madrid, Milan had practically snapped up the defender. They urgently needed a right-back, a player with certain qualities in both phases, and the management had identified the then-Almeria starlet as the ideal name.
First, however, there were some doubts to clear up about Pubill’s knee. He met the club’s medical staff for a check-up in Spain on an issue which has caused him many months of sidelines in the past because of a few too many injuries.
The results were position: Pubill’s knees showed encouraging signs and it then seemed as though everything would be quickly completed to bring him under Massimiliano Allegri’s orders in a deal worth just €15m.
What followed instead was radio silence. There was no further news, Milan stopped negotiating after practically having an agreement in hand. So, Atletico Madrid came in and quickly wrapped up the deal and brought Pubill to the Metropolitano.
Against Arsenal in the second leg last night he had five duels won, two of three tackles won and 10 successful defensive contributions at full-back. In the first leg he had won four duels as a centre-back, in a very different dynamic.
Overall, Pubill has made 11 Champions League appearances and 33 in all competitions, becoming a real wild card. Meanwhile, the Rossoneri are still hunting for a right-back and could ironically turn to the man Pubill has been fighting for the spot with: Nahuel Molina.
I bet Allegri don’t want him last summer because he’s too young
Allegri didn’t want Nkunku or Jashari and here they are. ??
I was going to talk about this guy and how we may have missed out on a real gem having watched him yesterday and then there’s an article about him today. Still I wonder how he fails a medical for us but passes for Atletico. Guy was solid yesterday but then again I have to mention how these guys play well for their respective clubs then we sign them and they become flops. I don’t want to sound pessimistic but I don’t think he’ll he as solid as he is now if he were playing for us firstly because he’ll be deemed not ready cuz he’s young and coming from a different league and secondly because he’ll be tossed from the bench of the first team to the starting 11 of the futuro and maybe one or two loans before he’s finally moved on and deemed a failure.
He did not fail the Milan medical. The results were positive: Pubill’s knees showed encouraging signs and it then seemed as though everything would be quickly completed to bring him under Massimiliano Allegri’s orders in a deal worth just €15m.
such a gem that he missed half the season with injury
the comments here are pure comedy as usual
Well, Milan is famous for giving up on deals. Was it 4 in the last year? That has to be a record.
giving up on right deals, over-spend on wrong deals
Perhaps Milan’s medical team has higher standards than any other club in Europe, as Milan’s goal is economic efficiency, not performance.
That’s okay.. we also have another gem in Athekame who will also be our captain very soon #sarcasm