Yannick Carrasco was a surprise arrival at the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano in January, particularly as Diego Simeone sought a No.9, but things have not gone to plan since the Belgian returned to Atletico Madrid.

It was thought for many weeks that Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani was going to be the sole arrival, yet the Carrasco deal had actually been in the works since the summer of 2019.

However, after failing to reach an agreement with PSG for Cavani, who had just six months left on his contract, Carrasco has been unable to help fill the goalscoring void at Los Rojiblancos; he’s played just 155 minutes across five games, starting just once. He didn’t feature in either leg against Liverpool.

There was an initial hope that Carrasco would have an immediate impact upon arrival, being named in the squad for the Madrid derby at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu after just one training session, but Simeone did not see the 26-year-old as being in the same physical condition as his teammates.

After two years in China, two months without having played and the loss of a spark that he had during his first spell at the club, Carrasco needs to reverse his situation if he is to remain in the Spanish capital beyond the summer.

There are at least 13 games remaining for Atletico – more if they get past the quarter-finals stage of the Champions League – and the Belgian will need to hit the ground running to ensure that Los Colchoneros execute his 30 million euro purchase option (this figure has only been made public in China, Atletico have not said anything), or to force the club into extending his loan for another season.

Above all, Los Rojiblancos are waiting for FIFA to announce that the current loans will be extended during this atypical season.

What is clear is that Atletico will not make a decision on Carrasco until the end of the campaign, so these 13 matches will be essential for the former Monaco winger.

With a healthy trident of Joao Felix, Diego Costa and Alvaro Morata, with Angel Correa pushing them for a spot in the XI, it will be difficult – but not impossible – for the likes of Carrasco, Thomas Lemar and Vitolo to shake up Simeone’s pecking order in attack.

It will not be easy for the latter three, but the only player who does not have a contract with the club next year is Carrasco. The pressure is on.

SOURCE:- allfootballapp