Atletico Madrid pipped rivals Barcelona to the La Liga crown over the weekend on a dramatic final day for Spanish football and one of the biggest reasons for their success was Juanfran. Though Diego Costa will undoubtedly steal most of the headlines with his 27 league goals, Juanfran's stern defensive leadership at the opposite end of the pitch was just as important. The Spain international marshalled Atleti to La Ligas best defensive record in the 2012-13 campaign, with the Red and Whites conceding only 31 goals in 38 games, while the Spaniards have similarly proved a tough nut to crack this season also. Juanfran has a wealth of big game experience having won the Europa League and the European Supercup with Atletico in 2012 as well as the Copa del Rey last season, and any move to Old Trafford would certainly be a huge coup for the club. Man Utd fans - do you think Bacary Sagna is a suitable transfer target? Who should we look at instead? Let us know in the comment section, below.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
