Carrasco falls out with Atletico, summer departure on the cards

Yannick Carrasco has seen his relationship with Atletico Madrid and his manager Diego Simeone deteriorate, and he has reportedly been exiled from the first team.

According to SPORT, the Belgium international will most likely leave the Cívitas Metropolitano Stadium next summer, with Barcelona his preferred destination.

Carrasco has fallen out with the Colchoneros after trying to force a move to Barca during the winter transfer window.

Atletico managed to get Memphis Depay in before the window slammed shut, but during negotiations with Barca for the Dutch forward, Carrasco’s name popped up in a possible swap deal.

Carrasco, along with his agent Pini Zahavi pressed for a move, but the club hierarchy refused to sanction a departure for the Belgian either on loan or exchange.

Zahavi, who also represents Barca striker Robert Lewandowski and played an integral part in the Pole’s move from Bayern Munich, was hoping to see Carrasco join the Blaugranas.

Despite the transfer not materialising, Carrasco’s desire to leave the club has reportedly put a dent in the relationship between both sides, and the player has now been left out in the cold.

Carrasco was linked with a move to other clubs during the transfer window. 

Tottenham Hotspur had registered an interest in the player, while Zahavi offered the former Monaco man to Manchester United in the wake of Christian Eriksen’s injury.

But United opted to sign Marcel Sabitzer on loan from Bayern for the remainder of the season, while Spurs could return for Carrasco in the summer.

Meanwhile, the versatile forward has his heart set on a move to Barca, and there is a possibility that the transfer could be revisited next summer.

Carrasco, who has made 27 appearances for Simeone’s side already this season, may have to settle for a place on the substitutes bench for the second half of the season after trying and failing to force a move to their rivals.