Atlético Madrid Target Maza as Price Soars to €70m
Atlético Madrid are back at the door for a player they know all too well – and this time the price has exploded.
Diego Simeone has again identified Bayer Leverkusen’s 20-year-old Algerian playmaker Maza as a priority to strengthen his midfield, and Atlético have already moved from admiration to action. According to Bulinews, the club’s sporting bosses have contacted Leverkusen to formally register their interest.
The response from Germany? A firm no.
A €12m bet turned €70m powerhouse
Leverkusen have no intention of cashing in on their rising star. Maza only arrived from Hertha Berlin in the summer of 2025 for a reported €12 million, but that now looks like one of the bargains of the decade. His value has surged, and any club hoping to tempt Leverkusen into talks is being pointed towards a fee in the region of €70 million.
That number is backed by the security of his contract. Maza is tied to the Bundesliga leaders until June 2030, giving Leverkusen all the leverage they need in a market where creative midfielders of his profile are scarce.
Atlético know this story well. As beIN Sports journalist Hafid Derradji revealed, the Spanish side had already tried to land Maza while he was still at Hertha, tabling a €35 million bid. Hertha rejected that offer, and Atlético walked away without their man – but clearly not without a lasting impression.
From prospect to undisputed starter
You only need to look at this season to understand why Europe’s elite keep circling.
Maza has forced his way into Xabi Alonso’s XI and stayed there, cementing himself as an undisputed starter. In just four league starts, the Algerian international has already produced one goal and two assists, knitting together Leverkusen’s attacks with the kind of vision and tempo that coaches build systems around.
He missed only the club’s Europa League opener, and that was down to illness rather than form. When fit, he plays. When he plays, he delivers.
That consistency has not gone unnoticed in England. Arsenal and Manchester City both showed concrete interest over the summer, sounding out the possibility of a deal. Leverkusen’s stance then was crystal clear: the 20-year-old was not for sale at any price that realistically came their way.
Leverkusen move to lock the door
Now, with Atlético back in the picture and the Premier League threat still looming, Leverkusen are trying to move the goalposts again.
Bild report that the German club have already started work on a new contract that would extend Maza’s stay well beyond 2030. Initial talks with the player’s camp began last week. There is no agreement yet, but the intent is obvious: keep the midfield maestro in red and black for as long as possible.
To do that, Leverkusen are ready to pay. The proposed extension includes a major salary increase, significantly upgrading the roughly €3 million per season he currently earns. The message is simple – you are central to our project, and we will reward you like it.
For Atlético, and for the Premier League giants watching closely, the equation is getting tougher by the week. The longer Maza shines in Leverkusen’s midfield, the higher the fee, the bigger the wage packet, the harder the negotiation.
At some point, one club will have to decide: is this the moment to go all in on Europe’s next great playmaker, or watch him slip permanently out of reach?
