Axel Witsel

Axel Witsel arrived on a free transfer from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, a vastly experienced Belgian midfielder who had played for Standard Liège, Benfica and Zenit and won more than 100 caps for his country.

From midfield to defence

Simeone soon used Witsel as a centre-back, and the move worked better than anyone expected. Composed on the ball, intelligent in his positioning and rarely rushed, he became a regular in defence and gave the team a calm start to its attacks. In three seasons he played more than 80 league games.

Legacy

He left for Girona in 2025. His time at Atlético is a reminder of how Simeone gets the best out of experienced players by asking them to do something new.