Oblak

Liverpool beat Atlético to the punch: He will not be Jan Oblak's replacement

He was the chosen one due to Jan Oblak’s future departure, but a team has anticipated the club from Madrid

He was one of Atlético de Madrid 's main objectives for the future to strengthen the goal, one of the most important positions. Diego Pablo Simeone 's team needs a goalkeeper of quality who can recover the most important position for the coach. Although Jan Oblak has a contract, the Slovenian does not rule out leaving the club if the offer is interesting for him.

This week, a player who has escaped the attention of the Colchonera board arrives at Cívitas Metropolitano ; he did not want to wait for Atlético . The Georgian goalkeeper, Giorgi Mamardashvili, signed for Liverpool in England , although this year he will play on loan at Valencia . It is Mamardashvili 's reunion with the red-and-white faithful after leaving them in the lurch.

Mamardashvili
Giorgi Mamardashvili got away from Atlético | Europa Press

Many fans saw the change clearly: Jan Oblak was leaving and the Georgian was coming, who they also fell in love with this summer with the Euro Cup . The Valencia goalkeeper is one of the best in the league and on the continent; Simeone saw him as perfect to replace Oblak . But his recent signing with Liverpool leaves him very far from reaching the colchoneros.

Jan Oblak does not want to leave

Miguel Ángel Gil Marín had his signing in mind; he was the chosen one and the favourite of the club, but for him to arrive Oblak had to leave. These were the minimum demands of the Che team, who did not want to see the goalkeeper in a rival team. Atlético tried everything: loans, buying him next season, nothing, there was no way.

The Georgian wanted to play for Atlético Madrid if he left Valencia , but no agreement was ever reached. There were talks with his agents, but nothing was firm or clear; he ended up as one of the hundreds of players they are following and watching. Liverpool are waiting for him, but not next year, so Valencia hopes he will give his best this season.

Liverpool snatched him away from Gil Marín

Also, unless they meet in the Cup , it will be the goalkeeper's last visit in the League to the CívitasMetropolitano , a stadium that could have been his. This summer, the departure of Jan Oblak was expected and Mamardashvili would arrive. His market value is 45 million euros , and what Liverpool will pay is 30 million plus objectives.

He has played four games against the red-and-whites: he won one, the last one at Mestalla by 3-0 against the colchoneros. He has conceded six goals in four games and kept a clean sheet in one of those four matches.

In the duel against Jan Oblak , the Slovenian goalkeeper has won five Zamora trophies and is looking for his sixth; Mamardashvili has not won any. He lost the Copa del Rey final against Real Betis Balompié in Seville , on penalties.