United States national team midfielder Johnny Cardoso has completed a transfer to Atlético Madrid from Real Betis as Madrid continue to boost their squad for next season.
Sources had told ESPN that Cardoso, 23, was a top target for Diego Simeone, who was keen to improve his defensive midfield options.
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Tottenham Hotspur obtained a priority option to sign the USMNT international as part of the deal that sent Giovani Lo Celso to Betis in 2024, but Cardoso will remain in LaLiga after a year-and-half spell at Betis.
Cardoso, who signed a five-year contract, was born in the United States but is of Brazilian descent and has an Italian passport, meaning he doesn’t occupy a non-European Union slot in Simeone’s squad.
The holding midfielder played in Brazil until moving to Betis in the 2023-24 season, where he became an important player for Manuel Pellegrini’s team.
He had 11.6 defensive interventions per game in LaLiga last season, tied for the third-most among midfielders in the league, only behind Real Madrid’s Aurélien Tchouaméni (12.3) and Mallorca’s Samú Costa (11.8)
Cardoso made his senior debut for the United States in a match against Wales in 2020. He has 22 caps, winning the Concacaf Nations League in 2023 and 2024.
Cardoso had to withdraw from Mauricio Pochettino’s Concacaf Nations League squad in March due to a muscle injury.
Atlético on Tuesday reached an agreement to sign 24-year-old Argentina international Thiago Almada from Brazilian club Botafogo.
They previously had boosted their squad by signing midfielder Álex Baena from Villarreal and 22-year-old Italian left back Matteo Ruggeri from Atalanta.
Simeone’s team finished third in LaLiga last season, behind Real Madrid and champions Barcelona.
They were eliminated in the group stage of the Club World Cup.
Information from The Associated Press and ESPN Research was used in this report.
