The first moves in the winter transfer window are already taking place, and while the player in question did have some kind words for Atlético fans, he did not feel the same way about his coach.
Matheus Cunha is set to join Wolverhampton on a loan deal with a buyout option of $50M, but the player did not want to leave stones unturned before he left the team and launched a slight but painful dig at coach Diego Simeone, who he feels never trusted his skills and had him on the bench for most of his stay at the Wanda Metropolitano.
The player, who scored seven goals and handed out eight assists in 54 games for Los Colchoneros, praised the fans' relentless support, but he complained about the lack of playing time Simeone gave him, which ended up with the footballer being snubbed from Brazil's 2022 FIFA World Cup squad.
Have a look at Cunha's Instagram post, and we will provide you with the translation so you can understand how bitter this exit was for the Brazilian ace.
"About loving and being loved. Things like this will never change: to feel a connection with something, being important, feeling affection and feeling you are part of a family, it's different. To you, Atléticos, thanks from the bottom of my heart. You have wonderful players, great athletes and awesome human beings. You have fans that make you feel at home even if you are at the other end of the world."
"Football is like this, like any other job. There are those who call the shots because they were big at some point, there are hierarchies and they decide accordingly, but then you have to make your own decisions. My heart will always have a piece of Atleti in it!"
Cunha will be joining his fifth European team after his stints with FC Sion, RB Leipzig, Hertha Berlin, and Los Colchoneros. The footballer has found the back of the net 39 times in 178 club games.
