Spanish giants Atletico Madrid have signed central midfielder Axel Witsel on a one-year- contract after his release from Borussia Dortmund. The Belgian becomes the Rojiblancos’ first signing of the season.
The 33-year-old joins compatriot Yannick Carrasco at the Metropolitano, becoming Atletico’s first signing of the new season. He will serve as a like-for-like replacement for Mexico international Hector Herrera, who left Atletico to join Major League Soccer side Houston Dynamo earlier in July.
Speaking to the club website for his first interview, Witsel claimed his excitement at working with Diego Simeone, who, according to the Belgian, is among the best coaches in the world.
The player also revealed the talks he held with compatriot Carrasco, which helped him decide on Atletico as his next destination, despite offers from Germany, France, Turkey, and the USA.
“For me, Atletico is a great club and I would like to stay here at a top-level, playing the Champions League. I’m here for that.”
“Cholo Simeone is one of the best coaches in the world, I can’t wait to work with him.
“I spoke to Carrasco last week, he told me very good things about this club and I’m very happy to be here. I came to play here at the time of Zenit, I found a ‘local’ environment, the people were incredible,”
he said.
Witsel has enjoyed a storied career, spanning six different clubs in six countries. The midfielder would start in Belgium with Standard Liege and go on to play for SL Benfica, Zenit St Petersburg, Tianjin Quanjian, and Borussia before landing in Madrid to sign for the Rojiblancos.
He has made 606 career appearances so far, scored 88 goals, and won a total of three domestic titles in Belgium and Russia, as well as cup competitions in Portugal and Germany.
