Gomez described the American midfielder's recent transfer to Atletico Madrid as astonishing

• Gomez calls Atletico Madrid a "class A team"
• Shocked Tottenham's sell-on clause was triggered
• Different Cardoso performance at club level

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  WHAT HAPPENED

  Former USMNT star Herculez Gomez said he was surprised by Johnny Cardoso's transfer to Atletico Madrid. Gomez acknowledged he doesn't understand Atletico's interest, based solely off his performances with the USMNT, but emphasized Cardoso is a completely different player at the club level.

  “Its career-changing,” Gomez said on the Futbol Americas podcast. “Say what you will about Cholo Simeone, about Atletico Madrid, this is a Class A team. There are a few clubs like Atletico Madrid around the world. And then I was very surprised at his ascension. And how well he did in Real Betis. And I was even more surprised when Tottenham put a $25 million trigger clause in his contract,and no way that's going to be triggered.

  “And then here comes Atletico to blow that out of the water and say, 'No, we're going to come in for a player that quite frankly – if we're going just off the USMNT team – I don't see it. Well that's because he's a completely different player at the club level, right? He's in command of his space, in a command of his abilities of the players around him. Who, for his age, has shown great poise, is a great ball winner, he does very well as bringing into the attack.”

  Gomez said he has to "separate" the club and USMNT versions of Cardoso.

  “For whatever reason, he's not been able to put it together at the U.S men's national team level," he said. "It's not gone his way. So, I can sit here and say, like 'I'm very surprised is happening,' but I have to separate the two. Because when I look at the player at the club level, I can easily see why Cholo Simeone wants him in the centre midfield. I can easily see what he sees in him.”

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• WHAT GOMEZ SAID

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The USMNT midfielder signed for the Los Rojiblancos for a reported fee of €25 million. Cardoso signed a five-year contract with the La Liga side.

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  WHAT’S NEXT?

  Cardoso must now establish himself at Atletico Madrid, where competition for midfield positions remains fierce among a squad filled with international-caliber players.

Tags: Futebol
Category: News