Johnny Cardoso’s near-meteoric rise through European club football could soon reach a crescendo as the USMNT midfielder is nearing a move to Atletico Madrid this summer.

The transfer isn’t out-of-nowhere, but the destination remains surprising after Tottenham Hotspur secured a unique “right of first refusal” on the Real Betis midfielder last summer.

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Spurs reportedly requested the future rights of Cardoso as part of a deal to bring Giovani Lo Celso in August 2024, and the North London club may wind up with part of the players’ sell-on rights if he moves elsewhere.

A move to Atletico Madrid — expected to start at approximately $35 million — is intriguing for the United States men’s national team, as Mauricio Pochettino would likely be th

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