Atlético Madrid training: Vargas cuts holiday short as Giménez returns amid uncertainty and Lemar faces overload
Atlético Madrid training: Obed Vargas shortens his break to rejoin the group on July 20, 2026, seeking a place in Simeone’s squad while José María Giménez’s future remains unresolved and Thomas Lemar recovers from an overload.
Opening session at Cerro del Espino resumes after Los Ángeles de San Rafael stage
The Atlético Madrid training group reconvened at Cerro del Espino on July 20, 2026, following the club’s preparation stage in Los Ángeles de San Rafael and a day off on Sunday. The session produced two notable returns and one significant absence that shaped the first full squad workout of the week.
Obed Vargas and José María Giménez were the principal talking points of the afternoon practice, with Vargas arriving early from a shortened break and Giménez back amid transfer speculation. Thomas Lemar did not take part and is expected to remain sidelined while receiving treatment for a muscular overload.
Vargas truncates vacation to stake a claim in the 2026-27 squad
Obed Vargas shortened his three-week holiday to rejoin Atlético Madrid training and report directly to Diego Simeone’s coaching staff. The Mexican, who joined Atlético in January, has made clear he wants to compete for a place in the manager’s final squad for the 2026-27 season.
Vargas’s decision to cut his break short underscores his intent to accelerate integration into the group and to make an impression before preseason intensifies. His early return gives him extra days on the training ground to adapt to Simeone’s tactical demands and to showcase his fitness and form.
Giménez returns with long-term standing at the club under question
José María Giménez, Atlético’s third captain, returned to team training at Cerro del Espino but arrives with his immediate future unsettled after a World Cup in which he did not feature. The centre-back has been a fixture at the club for 13 years, yet his place in Simeone’s plans this season is not guaranteed and could be resolved by a transfer that suits both player and club.
Giménez’s return creates a delicate situation: he remains an influential presence in the dressing room, but the possibility of a move would bring a swift change to Atlético’s defensive makeup. Club officials and potential suitors will now have a clearer picture of his availability and appetite for a fresh challenge.
Lemar sidelined by overload and working in the gym
Thomas Lemar did not participate in the session and is likely to remain absent for the remainder of the week due to a muscular overload. The Frenchman, recently back at Atlético after a loan spell at Girona, was placed on a recovery program and conducted rehabilitation work in the gym rather than joining the on-pitch drills.
The decision to manage Lemar’s workload carefully reflects a broader approach to preseason fitness: the club prefers a conservative timeline to avoid setbacks. Medical staff will monitor his response to treatment and gradually reintroduce him to team activities when the overload has sufficiently subsided.
First World Cup returnees rejoin squad dynamics
The session marked the return of Atlético players who featured at the recent World Cup, bringing international experience back into the club’s early preparations. Those players will now re-enter a training environment that has already begun to sharpen structure and demands after the Los Ángeles de San Rafael stage.
Reintegrating tournament players presents both a boost and a challenge for Simeone’s staff, who must balance match readiness with recovery needs. Training plans will be tailored individually, with monitoring of minutes, load and recovery to ensure the squad is ready for the upcoming preseason schedule.
Simeone’s selection puzzle ahead of the 2026-27 campaign
The coaching staff faces a fast-moving selection process as they prepare for the 2026-27 campaign, combining returning internationals, recent signings and players who impressed during the last half-season. Vargas’s early arrival adds competition in attacking areas, while Giménez’s status could prompt adjustments in defensive planning or recruitment.
Simeone must weigh fitness, form and squad balance when finalizing his roster decisions, and early training sessions like the one at Cerro del Espino serve as key evaluation windows. The manager’s choices over the next weeks will shape Atlético’s tactical flexibility and depth across multiple positions.
Medical outlook and conditioning priorities at the start of preseason
Atlético’s medical department has prioritized conservative rehabilitation and load management as the preseason begins, with Lemar’s gym-based recovery serving as a clear example. Staff are coordinating individualized plans with performance coaches to track players’ progress and to reduce the risk of early-season injuries.
Strength and conditioning work will ramp up gradually, mixing on-field drills with controlled gym sessions and recovery protocols. The objective is to deliver a squad that reaches peak competition fitness in time for competitive fixtures, while avoiding the common pitfalls of an overloaded preseason.
The club will continue rolling out assessments and reintegration plans over the coming days, with further training sessions scheduled at Cerro del Espino and additional preparatory matches planned as part of the preseason calendar.
