After such an impressive debut season at the Vicente Calderon, it is easy to see why Antoine Griezmann might have had his head turned by lucrative offers from Europe's big boys this summer.
With the likes of Chelsea and Bayern Munich publically fluttering their eyelashes in the forward's direction and offering the kind of riches beyond Atletico Madrid's disposal, few would have blamed the player if he had decided to move on.
Yet with the new season due to start in just over a fortnight Griezmann is still at the club, the rumours have gone away and he is firing on all cylinders in preseason, netting his fourth goal in as many games in Tuesday's 3-0 victory over Shanghai SIPG.
So, what has happened? Have Los Rojiblancos managed to buck the trend that has seen their star men plucked off by the continent's biggest spenders? Not quite.
Despite the fact the club have enjoyed a mightily impressive summer transfer window, there will always be vultures circling. In this case it is likely that in 12 months' time an offer will come in for the player that is too good to turn down, however through his own -- laudable -- choosing, Griezmann will remain at the club for at least another year.
With Euro 2016 being played in his homeland, the France international has somewhat managed to buck the trend and has shown remarkable common sense in not moving on this summer. After forcing his way into Didier Deschamps' side for the 2014 World Cup, he will be determined to hold down a starting berth for his home Euros and has sensibly decided the best place to do this will be with Atleti.
At 24 he is still young and knows that there is time for a monster move in the future. Right now he is a nailed on starter at Atleti and following his rapid development under the watchful eye of Diego Simeone last year perhaps feels that there is more to come. Certainly, if he continues in the same vein as he played in the second half of last season there will be no shortage of clubs queuing up to hand Los Rojiblancos a blank cheque and saying "name your price."
If his form in preseason is anything to go by, he is ready to hit the ground running and he looks like he is ready to become the club's talisman: a feat all the more remarkable when you consider just how underwhelming his first few months at the Calderon were.
Despite enjoying a breakthrough 2013-14 with Real Sociedad in which he netted 16 league goals, many eyebrows were raised when Los Colchoneros agreed to pay &euro30 million to prize him away from the Basque country.
With the hefty price tag weighing like a millstone round his neck, Griezmann initially struggled to adapt to life in the Spanish capital. He did not possess the energy and stamina required to play in a Simeone side. He looked awkward and uncomfortable in his newfound position as a striker and more often than not he was used from the bench as Croatian forward Mario Mandzukic hit the ground running.
Eventually he began to show more promise leading the line and managed to forge a position in the first XI. Still, somewhat unbelievably, he did not find the back of the net in La Liga until Nov. 1 when he registered a brace against Cordoba. Four more league strikes before the New Year followed, however following the festive break was when the attacker truly burst into life.
Adding 17 in the second half of the season to register a total of 22 league goals in his debut campaign at Atletico, Griezmann created history by breaking the record of goals scored by a Frenchman in Spain's top division, usurping Karim Benzema's previous record set with Real Madrid in 2011-12.
With his silky skills, electric pace and even more electric platinum blonde quiff, Griezmann is every bit the modern attacker. Diminutive but combative, good in the air and capable with both feet, he is developing into a world-class player and for once it is refreshing to see a player make a decision that will, in the long term, benefit their career. If only there were more like him.
While Griezmann is staying, one of the players who arrived with him last summer, Guilherme Siqueira, looks set to leave. Spanish media reports claim he is set for an initial loan move to Juventus with the Italian side obliged to make the deal permanent next summer.
Despite not being a disaster for Atleti, the left back failed to truly convince he was the long-term replacement for the departed and now returned compatriot Filipe Luis, with backup right back Jesus Gamez often favoured towards the business end of last season out of position on the left-hand side of the back four.
Once Siqueira's move is sealed, Atleti will look to ship out Mexican forward Raul Jimenez on loan in what should be their final outgoing of a successful summer window. With the potential addition of Thiago Motta still to come the immediate future looks good and the visit of Las Palmas on 22 August cannot come soon enough for Simeone, Griezmann and Co.