Loaned by Juventus to Atlético de Madrid, Jonathan David arrives with a profile that seems perfectly suited to the demands of Diego Simeone. In competition with Julián Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth, the 26-year-old Canadian does not only stand out for his 154 goals and 51 assists in 362 matches with La Gantoise, Lille and Juventus. His activity without the ball constitutes one of his main strengths: last season in Serie A, his 115.6 meters covered per minute made him the center forward displaying the greatest physical load in the championship according to Comparisonator. Pressing, counter-pressing and repetition of efforts make him the first defender of his team, a quality already visible in Lille. But David knows perfectly well the demands of his position: “ The attackers’ job is to score goals. If I don’t score, there’s criticism, and if I score, it’s a different story. »
However, his intelligence when traveling remains his most appreciated quality. “ He’s the smartest player I’ve coached », assured his coach Jesse Marsch to defend him against criticism in Canada. Mobile, capable of breaking, playing between the lines, attacking deep or combining quickly, David is especially formidable in the area: 85% of his 533 shots recorded with Lille and Juventus were triggered inside the 16 meters. Luciano Spalletti also praised his ability to “ take advantage of free spaces », while pointing out his limits in duels and with his back to goal. With only eight headed goals in his 114 goals in the league and Champions League in Europe, the Canadian is not a pure point of support. Atlético instead recovers an opportunistic number 9, hardworking and intelligent, capable of offering Simeone a register different from those of Alvarez and Sorloth.
