Atletico Madrid defender Santiago Arias has officially completed a loan move to Bayer Leverkusen. The right-back arrives in Leverkusen a much needed piece of good news following the loss of star man Kai Havertz earlier in the summer.
He will aim to come straight into the Bundesliga side and make an instant impact, eclipsing his time at Atletico Madrid in the process.
Arias Completes Leverkusen Move
Agreement with @bayer04_en for the loan of @santiagoarias13.
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) September 24, 2020
Inconsistent Spell in Madrid
Arias’ exit comes as no surprise following a season of inconsistency and lack of game time. The fullback made just 18 appearance in all competitions, with 14 of those coming in La Liga. Game time seems to be the reason for the move after just two years at the Spanish club.
He originally joined from PSV in 2018 before making 51 appearances with 39 coming in La Liga where he scored just the one goal for the Madrid club. A move was needed, and Bayer Leverkusen have provided the career lifeline.
At 28, too, Arias is slowly nearing the dreaded 30 mark and would have been desperate for a move to another top league. The transfer to Bayer Leverkusen provides him with that opportunity to receive those crucial minutes on the pitch all while playing at a top level.
Chance to Solve Leverkusen’s Problem
For Leverkusen, the deal is perfect. They finally have themselves an out and out right-back. Before, they were forced to play Lars Bender out of position to fulfil the role. And, whilst he has done well, his best position is defensive midfield.
The arrival of Arias gives Bender the chance to move back into his preferred midfield position, and Arias, an out and out right-back, the opportunity to slot straight in and solve a recurring Leverkusen problem going into the new season. The task will now be to progress into a consistent top four position.
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