Veteran right-back Juanfran, whose contract with Atletico Madrid expires at the end of the season, remains firmly focused on the present. While many fans and media outlets are buzzing about winter signings Diego Costa and Vitolo, Juanfran has urged the team to stay grounded and not let incoming transfers distract them from the current task at hand.
“Right now, we shouldn’t be thinking about Diego or Vitolo,” Juanfran said. “We need to concentrate on the players we already have. When the time is right, we’ll think about how the new arrivals can help. Until then, our only goal is to keep winning matches and give our fans something to cheer for.”
Though no longer a guaranteed starter—now competing with Sime Vrsaljko and Lucas Hernandez for the right-back position—Juanfran remains committed to earning a contract extension through merit, not sentiment. “I don’t want to renew my contract just for the sake of it,” he explained. “If I sign, it’s because I still feel useful to the team and believe I can perform at a high level. I want the club to trust me for a few more years. I don’t want any favors—I want to earn everything.”
Despite the heartbreak of two UEFA Champions League final defeats to arch-rivals Real Madrid in four years, Juanfran is optimistic about Atletico’s future. He firmly believes the team will one day lift the elusive trophy. “Yes, I still believe we can win the Champions League,” he told Marca. “I’m not just saying that to give people false hope. I truly believe that our captain will one day raise that cup.”
This season’s Champions League campaign hasn’t started well for Atletico. After drawing away to Roma and losing at home to Chelsea, the team currently sits third in Group C. To qualify for the knockout stages, they’ll need to rally quickly and consistently. But Juanfran remains hopeful, pointing out that if the team can reach the round of 16, they’ll be eligible to register both Vitolo and Diego Costa in January—a major boost for the second half of the tournament.
Atletico’s gritty spirit and unwavering belief echo the stories often seen on Bangla Cricket Live, where teams fight against the odds and build success one step at a time. Just like the underdog stories celebrated in Bangla Cricket Live, Juanfran’s faith in his team reminds us that perseverance and unity can ultimately lead to triumph on football’s biggest stage.