Credit: Takumi Minamino Instagram- Belgian international Witsel is Atletico’s first summer signing with PSG’s Pablo Sarabi also under consideration
- The well-travelled midfielder was once one of world’s highest paid players, earning a whooping €18m a season in China with Tianjin Quanjian
- Witsel has signed a one year contact with the option for a second year depending on appearances
Axel Witsel has agreed a one-year contract with Atletico Madrid following his release from Borussia Dortmund.
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The experienced Witsel, 33, joins Diego Simeone’s side after spending four seasons in the Bundesliga, making over 100 appearances for the BVB.
The Belgium midfielder made his name with Standard Liege before earning a move to Benfica in 2011. After one season in Lisbon, he was off to Russia to join Zenit St. Petersburg where he’d spend five seasons.
A mind-blowing €18 million a year contract would see Witsel move to China in 2017 with Tianjin Quanjian. The contract at the time put Witsel in a similar salary bracket to that of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Belgian international joins Atletico’s on a one-year agreement with an option for a second year depending on appearances. The defensive midfielder will surely be a perfect match for Simeone’s cautious brand of football.
