Atletico Madrid have pulled off a major signing this summer, agreeing a deal with Real Betis to bring in midfielder Johnny Cardoso on a five-year contract.
It’s a move that caught some fans by surprise, not because of the player’s quality, but because of how quickly things happened.
Softfootball can confirm the transfer is finalised with Atletico Madrid announcing it on their official page and on X
Cardoso, who was born in New Jersey but represents the United States, joined Betis just last season. He made a solid impact under Manuel Pellegrini, playing a key role in their midfield and helping the Andalusian club reach the UEFA Conference League final. Now, he’s set for a big leap to the capital.
Despite being only 22, Cardoso has already played over 140 senior matches in his career, most of them coming in Brazil with Sport Club Internacional before he moved to Spain. His experience in Brazil mixed with what he has learnt so far in Spain makes his ceiling very high.
What’s more, he holds an Italian passport, which makes things a lot easier in terms of squad registration rules in La Liga.
Cardoso was seen as a perfect fit for Diego Simeone’s system. He’s strong on the ball, aggressive without it, and isn’t afraid to push forward when needed. The fact that he already has 22 caps for the U.S. national team adds another layer of experience.
Interestingly, Tottenham had a first-option clause on him, supposedly worth €25 million, but decided not to pursue it. That opened the door for Atletico, who moved quickly to secure the deal.
According to Softfootball, the club had already signed Alex Baena earlier in the month and are now looking more balanced in midfield, especially after struggling in that department last season.
There are whispers that Conor Gallagher might be shown the exit, especially now that Cardoso is on board. For Atletico fans, this transfer brings hope. With Cardoso anchoring the middle, they might just be ready to go toe-to-toe with Barcelona and Real Madrid again.
