The Mexico international striker spent just a year at the Spanish capital prior to joining Benfica. Wolves star Raul Jimenez has confessed he has regrets over his failed spell in Atletico Madrid.
The Mexico international spent a year with the Spanish outfit, having united from Club America in 2014.
And the attacker wishes he had enjoyed more success in the Spanish capital but says he is pleased with what he’s achieved since.
“I didn’t feel sad. I think all of the changes are for the good. I would have liked to have done more in Atletico. I was only there for a year,” he told Marca.
“I realised that football has been faster, it required hard work but once all I’ve been through, it worked and now I am where I am because I haven’t given up”
Jimenez left Atletico to join Benfica in 2015 and had a better chance in Portugal.
He netted 31 occasions in 120 games as the Lisbon side raised two Primeira Liga titles as well as the Taca de Portugal and Taca da Liga.
After three years there, he was loaned to Wolves and ended up joining the English club on a permanent basis in 2019.
Jimenez is proud that he has become such a critical player for Nuno Espirito Santo’s team, which trumps his spells in Spain and Portugal.
He added: “I would have liked to have been more significant at Atletico or in Benfica, but now I am the important player my team-mates, the club, and the fans desire, and what I’ve done is paying off”
Wolves are currently sixth in the Premier League table and just two points behind Manchester United – competitions to get a Europa League place.
Santo’s guys are already in the knockout round of the year’s Europa League, having drawn 1-1 with Olympiacos at the first leg of their last-16 tie until all competitions were suspended on account of this coronavirus pandemic.