Yannick Ferreira Carrasco signs new contract with Atletico Madrid

It’s been a good few weeks for Yannick Carrasco. Having won a starting place for both club and country in the last couple of months, the young Belgian attacker has repaid his manager’s faith in him with some important contributions. A winning goal in the tense 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in the second round of Champions League matches was followed by a hat-trick last weekend versus Granada before he found the net again in midweek during the 1-0 victory in Russia.

Carrasco has long been spoken about as one of the stars of the future, not just for Atletico, but the sport as a whole. His mazy and direct dribbling skills, coupled with his ability to find the back of the net from time to time, makes him an exciting player to watch. Atletico realise his importance to the club’s ambitions now, and in the future, as they have just announced a contract extension for the 23-year-old.

"I'm very happy to carry on for many more years with Atletico," said Carrasco, who has extended his stay with the club until 2022.

Atleti’s sporting director, Jose Luis Perez Caminero, commented, "It's great news for everyone involved with Atletico,"

With speculation continuously surrounding the talented players of Los Rojiblancos, it’s always a relief to see those same characters commit their immediate future to the team. Carrasco, along with Saul and Griezmann were the subject of much transfer speculation during the summer, but like his teammates, the winger wasn’t afraid to end the doubt over his long-term plans by penning a contract extension that will last for the next six years.

Having featured as a substitute for much of his debut campaign, Carrasco has without a doubt proven he belongs in the starting XI at the Vicente Calderon. His strengths are unique compared to his fellow Atleti players, with him clutching at the opportunity offered to him by Diego Simeone to earn himself a regular spot in the team. With Atletico firmly in control of their domestic and European ambitions, Simeone will need Carrasco to continue to perform at such a high level.