Atlético Madrid and the missed opportunity with Rosicky
Atlético Madrid arrived in Prague to face Sparta and there one of their hosts was Tomas Rosicky, former player of Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund, and current sports director of the Czech team.
At that time when he jumped from Germany to England, Atlético called with great force and good arguments to his door, even family ones. It was in the 2005-06 season when Atlético, then coached by Bianchi, went for Rosicky.
The player had marveled in Euro 2004 and was growing in Dortmund and the Madrid club sounded out his signing already for the January 2006 market. The Germans, immersed in an economic crisis, were open to listening to offers and there was a predisposition on the part of the player.
Among other reasons, because of what his brother Jiri had told him, who played in Atlético B between 1996 and 2000, in the Second Division. But there was no agreement between clubs and the conversations were postponed until spring.
The end of the season was approaching and everything seemed to be done. The Czech and Atlético had an agreement for months and Dortmund, yes, admitted that it was ‘a matter of days’ because ’the positions are very close’.
The red-and-white club, in fact, was already more focused on tying Agüero, a very young promise (17 years old) from Independiente, and Costinha. Although Juventus with Nedved, Bayern and Arsenal were complicating things, Dortmund agreed to the deal with Atlético for around 11 million euros.
But everything blew up in mid-May. The cause: problems with the bank guarantee. While negotiations between the clubs were breaking down, it was known that the player was undergoing a medical in London with Arsenal, who paid 12 million euros.
Tomas Rosicky, for his part, played ten seasons at Arsenal, the last ones very affected by injuries. In 2016 he returned to Sparta Prague where it all began. With him in the offices, the club is now going through a great moment, champion of the last two Leagues and return to the Champions League after 19 years. Rosicky, who never played against Atlético, meets the team that could have been his.
