He never regarded this as a duty. About a year and a half ago, he started a partnership after signing a contract with him. Axel Witsel has been a pure midfielder for his entire career. At times he wasn’t a classic defensive midfielder; he acted as a restrained midfielder with reach and scored five goals in his first season in the league. Borussia Dortmund, five years past, remains part of the memory.
Simeone did not see him as a center-back in mind. He did not expect him to be a guaranteed starter in his plans, but rather a trusted tactical option that allows others to rest. Koke, De Paul, and the five regulars who had been waiting for two years without finalizing their arrival, await the development that the newcomer, a very young player, can achieve, Arthur Vermeeren.
33 out of 34 matchups possible
Numbers do not lie. This Wednesday at 21:30, Atlético will play the 34th match of the season, the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals, against Athletic. It will be Witsel’s 33rd appearance. The only setback this season came from sanctions carried over from last year, but the Belgian has worn the team’s shorts every time he takes the field since then.
Jan Oblak is not included in this count. Witsel, who logged every minute of the campaign, is the player Simeone leaned on most. He accumulated 2,679 minutes across 32 games, starting 29 and finishing 26. He narrowly trails Antoine Griezmann, who logged 2,672 minutes, but like Saúl Ñíguez, he took part in all matches of the season, resurfacing after a run of quieter periods.
Witsel is already within reach of equaling his total minutes from the entire previous season. The current pace shows that yellow cards are not a major concern, as he has appeared only twice in LaLiga, one time against Barcelona and the other against Sevilla.
Atlético’s defense faced constant injuries (Reinildo at the start of the season, Gimenez and Azpilicueta) and the uneven form of some teammates (Savić and Soyuncu joining later) that helped solidify Witsel as the anchor of the usual three-man central defense Simeone deploys. This was not only a matter of need but a testament to his value.
Life insurance in countries
Advanced statistics highlight Witsel’s strengths beyond routine tasks: passing efficiency. According to data from the private portal Fbref, he ranks among the top 3% of defenders in the five major leagues for pass success. His passing success rate sits at 93.2%, with similar scores across short, medium, and long-range passes.
His aerial presence (0.94 duels won per match) and cleanliness in duels (0.62 fouls per match, only three bookings and no red cards this season) also work in his favor, reinforcing the trust Simeone places in him, even though he is 35 and may not handle minutes as easily as before.
Atletico exploring renewal
Age suggests his time with the club could be nearing a transition. The contract runs until next June, but coach Simeone hopes to keep him for another season. A typical path would avoid the kind of screens that lure players away to other leagues, keeping a core presence intact.
Even in a season as demanding as this one, with Simeone voicing concern about the reduced rest for the squad amid a dense schedule, Witsel has committed fully. The lineup already includes Mario Hermoso aiming to be a substitute, but as Atlético never rests, Witsel keeps delivering on the field.