Atletico Madrid have reportedly revived their interest in Dusan Vlahovic, five years after failing to sign the Serbian striker during his time at Fiorentina. Diego Simeone’s side are now exploring the possibility of bringing him to the Metropolitano as a free agent after his contract with Juventus expired. Atletico had previously been keen on Vlahovic in 2021, but the move never materialized, and he eventually joined Juventus for a reported €70 million several months later.

Vlahovic is now attracting attention from several major clubs after becoming available without a transfer fee. Besiktas, Barcelona, Manchester United and Juventus have all been lined with the 26-year-old, although Atletico appear to be one of his preferred destinations. His representatives reportedly understand that matching the €12 million annual salary he earned at Juventus will be difficult, and a new financial package is therefore expected to be considerably more modest.

The striker is said to be waiting for an offer from Atletico while considering other possibilities. His preference for Simeone’s team is particularly interesting given that he previously turned down the Spanish club in 2021. Atletico had initially been expected to pursue Vlahovic only if Alexander Sorloth left the squad, but the possibility of keeping both forwards could open the door for a more ambitious attacking setup next season.

Vlahovic’s four-and-a-half-year spell at Juventus was affected by injuries, managerial changes and inconsistent team performances. He worked under four permanent head coaches and struggled to reproduce the scoring numbers that made him one of Europe’s most sought-after young forwards. His last campaign was particularly difficult, with only seven Serie A goals in 19 appearances as Juventus finished sixth. A move to Atletico could give Vlahovic an opportunity to rebuild his confidence and revive his career in a system built around Simeone’s demanding style.