As Atletico Madrid prepare to face rivals Real Madrid, BBC Sport looks at the leading role Conor Gallagher is playing in their rebuild.
During nearly 12 years in charge of Atletico Madrid, Diego Simeone has led the club to unprecedented success, including two La Liga titles and Champions League qualification every single year.
And on Sunday comes the biggest test yet for Simeone's new-look team - a home meeting with bitter local rivals Real . That performance prompted pundit Julio Maldonado to enthuse: "I was already convinced he's a great signing, and today he demonstrated why. Gallagher's 42 million euros price tag comes with lofty expectations, but so far he is matching them and more - even earning a new nickname for his committed style: 'Pitbull'.Atletico's new strikers, however, are taking longer to settle.
Alvarez's new strike partner, Alexander Sorloth, has also struggled to show his best since arriving for 32 million euros from Villarreal. Goalkeeper Jan Oblak didn't allow more than 29 league goals during any of his first seven years with the club , but those stingy standards have not been maintained with an average of 39.7 conceded in the past three seasons, including 43 last term.
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