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<ul><li>Gomez calls Atletico Madrid a "class A team"</li><li>Shocked Tottenham's sell-on clause was triggered</li><li>Different Cardoso performance at club level</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

'It's career-changing' - Herculez Gomez expresses shock at Johnny Cardoso's transfer to Atletico Madrid, especially in wake of a sub-par USMNT performances

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Atletico Madrid

<p>Former USMNT star Herculez Gomez said he was surprised by <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/usmnt-midfielder-johnny-cardoso-atletico-madrid-transfer-usd35-million-fee/blt22f02482547cedd4" target="_blank">Johnny Cardoso's transfer to Atletico Madrid</a>. Gomez acknowledged he doesn't understand Atletico's interest, based solely off his performances with the USMNT, but emphasized Cardoso is a completely different player at the club level.</p><p>“Its career-changing,” Gomez said on the Futbol Americas podcast. “Say what you will about Cholo Simeone, about Atletico Madrid, this is a Class A team. There are a few clubs like Atletico Madrid around the world. And then I was very surprised at his ascension. And how well he did in Real Betis. And I was even more surprised when Tottenham put a $25 million trigger clause in his contract,and no way that's going to be triggered.</p><p>“And then here comes Atletico to blow that out of the water and say, 'No, we're going to come in for a player that quite frankly - if we're going just off the USMNT team - I don't see it. Well that's because he's a completely different player at the club level, right? He's in command of his space, in a command of his abilities of the players around him. Who, for his age, has shown great poise, is a great ball winner, he does very well as bringing into the attack.”</p><p>Gomez said he has to "separate" the club and USMNT versions of Cardoso.</p><p>“For whatever reason, he's not been able to put it together at the U.S men's national team level," he said. "It's not gone his way. So, I can sit here and say, like 'I'm very surprised is happening,' but I have to separate the two. Because when I look at the player at the club level, I can easily see why Cholo Simeone wants him in the centre midfield. I can easily see what he sees in him.”</p>

WHAT HAPPENED

WHAT GOMEZ SAID

<p>The USMNT midfielder signed for the Los Rojiblancos for a reported fee of €25 million. Cardoso signed a five-year contract with the La Liga side.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Cardoso must now establish himself at Atletico Madrid, where competition for midfield positions remains fierce among a squad filled with international-caliber players.</p>

WHAT’S NEXT?

'It's career-changing' - Herculez Gomez expresses shock at Johnny Cardoso's transfer to Atletico Madrid, especially in wake of a sub-par USMNT performances | Goal.com

Gomez described the American midfielder&apos;s recent transfer to Atletico Madrid as astonishing

&apos;It&apos;s career-changing&apos; - Herculez Gomez expresses shock at Johnny Cardoso&apos;s transfer to Atletico Madrid, especially in wake of a sub-par USMNT performances

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