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Atletico Madrid make first bid for USMNT star heavily linked with Tottenham Hotspur

Originally posted on To The Lane And Back
By Rohan Sengupta | Last updated Jun 6, 2025 8:32 PM ET

Tottenham have been dealt a blow as Real Betis midfielder Johnny Cardoso wants to join Atletico Madrid

Tottenham Hotspur are already facing a dilemma in their attempts to bring in a new midfield presence as their pursuit of Real Betis star Johnny Cardoso has become complicated following Atletico Madrid’s interest.

Questions surrounding Ange Postecoglou have dominated the headlines around North London for the last few weeks and months, with Spurs finally confirming his departure on Friday. The Australian departs the club as just the third manager to deliver a European trophy to Tottenham.

Having sacked Ange Postecoglou despite him leading the club to European glory, Daniel Levy now faces a massive job of getting his replacement spot on. Before appointing Ange’s replacement, Spurs have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Johnny Cardoso.

Spurs have the option to buy Cardoso from Real Betis for €25million fee. This was part of the deal that saw Giovani Lo Celso leave White Hart Lane to join Real Betis last summer. The North London club’s option to sign USA international is only valid until the end of June, so they have to strike an agreement with Real Betis before that.

However, according to a report from Spanish outlet Diario de Sevilla (h/t Sport Witness), Atletico Madrid have made the first bid of €30m including bonuses to sign Cardoso. Betis have put a €40m valuation on the player, so Atletico Madrid could even include a young player to get closer to their demands.

Cardoso does not have ‘any intention’ of joining Tottenham as he wants to continue playing in Spain. It is clear that the American enforcer does not fancy joining the Premier League club, even though they can offer him Champions League football. He has already agreed personal terms with Atletico Madrid, who are on the lookout for new players after a disappointing season in La Liga.

While signing Cardoso would have been a big coup for the Europa League winners, his decision to stay in Spain and join Atletico is far from disastrous. This is because there are plenty of talents across the European continent that can be lured to N17 by offering them Champions League football.

The attraction of the elite European competition, combined with Spurs’ project under a new manager, makes them an appealing destination for young, exciting talents or even experienced pros.

Missing a player of Cardoso’s talent and potential hurts, but Tottenham do have the required tools to lure quality players to N17 and drive their hunger for trophies.

This article first appeared on To The Lane And Back and was syndicated with permission.

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