Atlético return for preseason training: Witsel, Lino among the new faces

Atlético Madrid reported for preseason training on Sunday in Majadahonda, with a couple new faces in the squad and several others looking to impress Diego Simeone before heading out on likely loans.

Axel Witsel and Samuel Lino, the two summer additions so far, were put through their paces for the first time. Álvaro Morata and Saúl Ñíguez were also present, along with some loan returnees.

Vitolo, Santiago Arias and Marcos Paulo were absent from the first session — they are the most likely Atlético players to find new clubs and leave. Nehuén Pérez, Manu Sánchez, Ivo Grbić and Rodrigo Riquelme all took part, along with academy players Antonio Gomis (goalkeeper), Alejandro Iturbe (goalkeeper) and 18-year-old Sergio Díez (right-back).

The team met in Majadahonda, a suburb of Madrid, and will move on to Los Ángeles de San Rafael, about an hour north of Madrid. Atlético’s summer retreat is typically held here, in the Guadarrama mountains. Atlético will be stationed there for two weeks before their first friendly.

The first preseason game takes place on July 27 at 19:00 CEST against Numancia, in the annual Jesús Gil y Gil Memorial game. On July 30 at 13:45, Atlético will take on Manchester United in Ullevaal Stadion de Oslo, Norway — a rematch of last year’s Champions League last 16 encounter.

On August 4 at 19:00, Atlético will play Cádiz in the Trofeo Ramón de Carranza. The new season gets underway on August 15 against Getafe.