Conor Gallagher arrived for his first appearance at the Metropolitano on Wednesday night flanked by fireworks and Harley-Davidsons, engines revving and Atlético Madrid fans chanting his name. “I loved every minute of it,” the England midfielder said when he returned for a second time on Friday and described his presentation alongside his fellow summer signings Julián Álvarez, Alexander Sørloth and Robin Le Normand as “a taster of what’s to come” that “makes me even more excited to play in this stadium”.
This time it was quieter and Gallagher came alone. Getting there had taken longer than anyone anticipated and the Atlético president, Enrique Cerezo, said the deal had “not been easy” amid “complicated negotiations”. The Englishman, though, insisted that he never doubted that he would leave Stamford Bridge for Spain.
Gallagher had first arrived in Spain on 8 August and trained with some of his new teammates but, stuck in a hotel, he had been forced into an anxious and unexpected wait. His €42m (£35.5m) transfer had been agreed, only for the deal to be put on hold and for him to return to London when Samu Omorodion’s move in the other direction broke down. Revived by the €60m sale of João Félix to Chelsea, it was not finally confirmed until this week. Gallagher was presented as a “new lung for our midfield”, expected to run all day.
“I was always confident that the deal would be done because of how much I wanted to come to the club and how much the club felt like they wanted me so I kind of knew it was going to happen but these things take time,” he said. “I am so happy that it is finally done.
“The whole thing really excites me: not just playing for this massive club but living in a different country, a different city, [with] a different language. All these things really excite me and my partner. I need to learn Spanish quickly, and it is something I am looking forward to. The culture is very different from London, the way of life, but I love it. Every single player has been super-friendly. I look forward to building a friendship with all the players.”
Gallagher explained that he had been encouraged to come by his England teammate Kieran Trippier, who won the league title in his spell at Atlético. “We were at the Euros together for a couple of months so I spent a lot of time with him,” Gallagher said. “We spoke a lot about the club and what he thought. He really helped me with my decision. He only had amazing things to say about the club, the manager, the players, the city, the whole thing. He was very complimentary about it, which made it very easy for me. I appreciate his advice.”
The 24-year-old added: “[Diego] Simeone was a big part of my decision to come to this club. He is one of the best managers in the world and I am really excited to play for him. The way he likes his players to play in midfield I think suits me very well. I always give 100% and I think he appreciates that.
“The [last] two days [of training] have been very difficult, the weather has been very hot, but I will get used to it. I am loving it. For now, we have a translator to help us communicate but it is very easy, very simple. On the training field he shows me what to do so that I understand straight away. It’s not complicated. And as time goes on I will find it easier to understand and everyone will be happier.
“I am happy to play anywhere on the pitch; wherever the manager wants, even if it’s striker, defender, full-back. Of course I prefer midfield, but anywhere in midfield. I am happy so long as I am affecting the game and helping the team win matches.”
