Johnny Cardoso has continuously taken steps forward in his career and his most recent one is surely the biggest yet. Cardoso made the move to La Liga giants Atletico Madrid earlier this summer in a permanent deal from fellow Spanish club Real Betis. The New Jersey native made the roughly 329-mile move north to Madrid, joining up with Diego Simeone’s squad ahead of the new campaign. After originally breaking through at Brazilian Serie A side Internacional, Cardoso’s growing role in South America earned him a leap to Real Betis. A new opportunity working with longtime manager Manuel Pellegrini allowed Cardoso to test himself in one of Europe’s top-five leagues, while also featuring in a European Final (UEFA Europa Conference League). Now with a move to a title-challenger in Atletico Madrid, Cardoso is ready to bring the same intensity that helped him get to where he is today. “It’s a dream come true being here, experiencing this with my family,” Cardoso said during a club interview after his presentation at the Metropolitano Stadium. “It’s a huge club which has the same ambition as I do.“It’s a privilege to be with all the staff and especially [Simeone],” he added. “He [Simeone] played in my position, and I’m ready to evolve and learn from him.”Cardoso signed a five-year contract with Atletico and will wear the No. 5 jersey this season, a number that was open following Argentina international Rodrigo De Paul’s move to Inter Miami. He is one of six summer signings by the club, joining Thiago Almada, David Hancko, and Alex Baena as some of the newest faces in the red, white, and blue of the Atletico colors. A hardworking and versatile midfielder, Cardoso will aim to lift his first trophy at club level this season as Atletico aims to make a deep run in all three of its competitions. He came close to doing so against Chelsea last May until a second-half comeback from the English club condemned Real Betis to a 4-1 loss in the Conference League Final. Atletico will have La Liga, Copa Del Rey, and UEFA Champions League aspirations this season and Cardoso believes by next May, it will go down as a memorable one for him and the club.“I have a lot of confidence in the project, with what the club has said to me,” Cardoso said. “We have the same hopes, to keep growing and to win trophies. It’s a team that has brought in a lot of players, a lot of young players, to blend with experience. We play in a lot of competitions, and we have total conviction of being able to fight for all of them.“We’re all at the same level,” he added. “Atleti are a very big team….Simeone has been showing me things from the start, I’m learning a lot. It’s going to be a special season.”Atletico Madrid opens La Liga play on August 17 against Espanyol.