Atlético Madrid Eyes Maza as Midfield Solution

Atlético Madrid have gone back to an old obsession.

Diego Simeone wants fresh legs and fresh ideas in midfield, and at the top of his list sits a familiar name: Maza, Bayer Leverkusen’s 20-year-old Algerian playmaker. Atlético have moved quickly, too. According to Bulinews, the club’s sporting bosses have already contacted Leverkusen to make their interest crystal clear.

They’ve run straight into a brick wall.

Leverkusen have no intention of cashing in on one of their most prized assets. Maza arrived from Hertha Berlin in the summer of 2025 for around €12 million. Since then, his value has exploded. With a contract that runs until June 2030, any club wanting him now is looking at a fee in the region of €70 million.

For Atlético, this is a long-running pursuit rather than a sudden whim. beIN Sports journalist Hafid Derradji reports that the Spanish side previously lodged a €35 million bid while Maza was still at Hertha. That offer was knocked back without hesitation, but it underlined how closely Simeone’s staff have been tracking his rise.

And that rise has gathered serious pace in Leverkusen.

Maza has forced his way into the starting XI and stayed there, his form this season bordering on irresistible. The Algerian international has already produced one goal and two assists from just four starts, missing only Leverkusen’s Europa League opener through illness. Every performance adds another layer to his reputation and another few million to his price tag.

Europe has noticed. Atlético are not alone.

Arsenal and Manchester City both pushed hard over the summer, sounding out Leverkusen about a possible deal and showing what was described as “concrete” interest. The answer from Germany never changed. The 20-year-old was not for sale. Not at any price that was put on the table.

Leverkusen are now moving to make that stance even stronger.

Bild reports that the club have already opened talks over a new contract that would extend Maza’s stay beyond 2030. Initial discussions with his representatives began last week. There is no agreement yet, but the intention is obvious: lock down their midfield conductor and shut the door on circling giants.

Money will do a lot of the talking. The proposed extension includes a major salary bump on the €3 million per season he currently earns. Leverkusen hope that a significantly improved deal, combined with a starring role in a team on the rise, will convince Maza that his future remains in the Bundesliga.

Atlético, Arsenal, City – they are all watching. Leverkusen are pushing to ensure they keep watching from a distance.