If he was that good why would athletico loan him to Girona?
Barca, Real and Atleti have a lot of talent every season coming though, they are basically talent factories for the rest of the league unlike almost all other leagues or teams, their numbers are ridiculous, and even if you dont believe it, up until 2019 or so it was almost impossible to even get a sniff into those 3 teams, cos of their level, as a youngster.. so they always loan out players to other La Liga sides in masse.
I think this is probably the only reason really Pedri and Gavi got a chance lately cos of the financial crisis at Barca.
But yeah Im not convinced. Its a weird one, but spanish sources are convinced its not for that hes coming for being back to Girona.. idk
They always go on tour and then gets loaned out, I remember him from that summer tour with Atleti first when he came through. +his La Liga play now of course.
edit.+Simeone is not playing with wingers for 2 years now, he converted Carrasco to a wingback, and maybe he thinks Riquelme can not play as a AM or wingback in his side.. its a weird target I agree. He would be one of the AMs in Atleti now but maybe City thinks of him as an inverted winger, of which there is no place in Atleti.