Arnau Ortiz scored for Atlético de Madrid against Manchester United on Saturday, extending a preseason that has turned him into one of the biggest stories of the club's summer. The 24-year-old winger from Girona put Atlético ahead just five minutes into the friendly in Stockholm, though the team went on to lose 2-1.
Atlético's preseason has unfolded against an unusual backdrop. The World Cup delayed the return of several first-team players, and Julián Álvarez's comments after Argentina's win over Austria, in which he made clear his intention to leave the club, kept fans focused on Atlético throughout the tournament.
Camp begins without World Cup players
Diego Pablo Simeone's squad began preseason work on July 13 with medical checks before traveling to the club's traditional training camp in Los Ángeles de San Rafael. With the World Cup players still on vacation, Simeone relied from the first day on a large group of players from Atlético's academy.
From reserve-team top scorer to first-team contender
Arnau Ortiz arrived at the senior squad after the best season of his career with Atlético Madrileño, the club's reserve team coached by Fernando Torres, where he scored 23 goals in 36 official matches to finish as the side's top scorer. What began as a chance to complete training sessions with the first team turned, in just two weeks, into a genuine bid for a place in Simeone's plans.
Wins and warning signs in the friendlies
After training in Segovia and Majadahonda, Atlético played a closed-doors friendly against Getafe and won 4-1, with a standout performance from Lookman. The next test came against Manchester United in Stockholm. Atlético looked strong for long stretches, but hit the woodwork twice and made defensive errors that let United complete a 2-1 comeback.
Arnau Ortiz scored in both matches, opening the scoring against José Bordalás's Getafe side and finding the net again against Manchester United. Beyond the goals, he was one of Atlético's most dangerous attackers in both games, involved in several of the team's clearest chances.
Two more tests before LaLiga
Simeone found a positive response from both Hjulmand and the academy players during this atypical preseason. Atlético now travels to Seoul to face Manchester City on Sunday, before closing preparations against Olympique de Marseille on Friday, August 14.
With the transfer market open and the futures of Julián Álvarez and Sorloth uncertain, Arnau Ortiz has turned an exceptional summer into one of the club's most positive stories, going from training-session guest to one of the standout figures of Atlético's preseason.
