Atletico Madrid expressed interest in acquiring Croatian striker Ante Budimir. Nonetheless, coach Diego Simeone opted to allocate 22 million euros towards securing Giacomo Raspadori from Napoli, citing the advantage of his younger age at 25. Although Budimir boasts an impressive track record as the third-highest scorer in La Liga over the past five seasons, factors such as his age at 34 and Osasuna's firm stance on retaining him, supported by a contract valid until June 2027 and a demand for a 20 million euro fee despite a release clause of just 8 million euros, were instrumental in the transfer not coming to fruition. Additionally, the player's market value, estimated by Transfermarkt to be €5.00m, and his association with several other Spanish clubs were notable. Atletico Madrid's decision to pursue the younger Raspadori underscored their strategy of prioritizing investment in youthful talent.