Atlético Madrid have their striker. Jonathan David has given his approval, the clubs have a verbal agreement, and Fabrizio Romano's "Here we go" is already out. The structure: a loan from Juventus with an option to buy. Simeone finally gets the No. 9 he's been chasing all window.
The last real obstacle was David's salary — around $12 million, the highest on Juventus' books. Atlético won't cover the full amount, but the split has been agreed. That was the final hurdle. It's done.
Why David at 26 is a gamble worth taking
The Lille years make the Juventus year look like an anomaly. Between 2020 and 2025, David scored 109 goals in 232 matches — three consecutive seasons of 26, 26, and 25 goals. That's not a hot streak. That's a system.
Then he moved to Turin and managed eight goals in Serie A. That's the version Atlético are betting against. The argument is reasonable: David is 26, he's not a player in decline, and Serie A defending is a different test than what he'll face in La Liga — where Atlético's direct, pressing style suits a striker who leads the line aggressively rather than operating in tight spaces.
If that read is right, his odds of hitting double figures at the Metropolitano are solid. If it's wrong, Atlético are left holding a loan they'd rather not convert.
The forward line math still has moving parts
David's arrival only completes Atlético's attack if Julián Álvarez and Alexander Sørloth both stay — which is not guaranteed. Officially, Sørloth is untouchable. Unofficially, the Norwegian wants to be a team's main striker, a role he hasn't secured in Madrid. Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti has been tracking him all summer.
If Sørloth goes to Turin, Atlético will immediately move for another forward. The window closes in hours, not days. The timing is tight enough that the domino effect matters for anyone tracking Atlético's attacking depth ahead of the new La Liga season.
One deal is done. Whether it stays that way depends on Turin as much as Madrid.
