Diego Simeone has praised the "commitment, work and dedication" of Giacomo Raspadori, amid speculation linking the forward with a move away from Atletico Madrid.

The Italy international joined Los Rojiblancos from Napoli in August, signing a five-year deal at Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

However, Raspadori has scored just two goals in 14 appearances across all competitions, while starting just once in LaLiga.

The forward has appeared from the bench 10 times for Atletico in the Spanish top flight this season, with only Conor Gallagher (14) and Antoine Griezmann (13) doing so more often.

Raspadori has been linked with a return to Serie A, with Lazio and Roma reportedly interested in securing his services.

"He keeps working. Raspadori has always worked with responsibility since the first day he arrived," Simeone said of him. 

"His commitment, his work, his dedication in how he trains does not indicate anything related to a departure. But this is football, and everything can change from one day to the next.

"We are open, as always, to whatever happens. We'll manage it in the same way, thinking about the next game, which is the most important thing we have."

Atletico, who are fourth in LaLiga, commence 2026 with a trip to Estadio Municipal de Anoeta to face Real Sociedad on Sunday.

The hosts occupy 16th place in the table following a run of four matches without victory. Their fortunes will be overseen by new head coach Pellegrino Matarazzo, who replaced Sergio Francisco last month.

"I start the year with very good energy, as always, with the enthusiasm of being where I want to be and, obviously, thinking about each day as I have done since the first day I arrived," Simeone added.

"We're thinking about Real Sociedad; we don't look beyond one game at a time. We know that our opponents have a new coach who will surely arrive with a lot of enthusiasm. Whenever there is a change, the players always try to give their best for the new coach.

"We have seen how [Pellegrino Matarazzo] worked with his previous teams. That doesn't mean he will follow the same pattern as with his previous teams, but it will be related to what, I imagine, he will see in the Real Sociedad players.

"We will have to play the game where we think we can hurt them."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Real Sociedad – Goncalo Guedes

Guedes has been directly involved in two goals in Sociedad's last three games in all competitions (one goal, one assist).

The Portuguese forward was on target in Sociedad's last LaLiga home match against Girona, which they ultimately lost 2-1.

Atletico Madrid – Antoine Griezmann

Griezmann has scored in each of his last two LaLiga matches for Atletico, last netting in three in a row in December 2024.

The evergreen Frenchman has been involved in five goals in his last seven appearances for Los Rojiblancos against Sociedad in the competition (two goals, three assists).

MATCH PREDICTION – ATLETICO MADRID WIN

Atletico are unbeaten in their last 11 LaLiga matches against Sociedad (W7 D4), since a 2-0 defeat in September 2019.

It is their longest unbeaten streak against the Txuri-Urdin in the competition since April 1976 (13 games: W8 D5).

Sociedad have failed to beat Atletico at home in LaLiga in their last five attempts (D2 L3), scoring only three goals in this period. This is their longest winless home run against any side currently in the competition.

The Txuri-Urdin have lost their last two at home – they have not lost three or more successive home games in the competition since September 2024 (L4).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Real Sociedad - 26.4%
Draw - 25.4%
Atletico Madrid - 48.1%