Atletico Madrid have reiterated that striker Radamel Falcao will not be sold this summer.
The Colombia international, who joined Atletico last summer having enjoyed a prolific spell with Porto, has developed a reputation as one of European football’s deadliest frontmen.
His goals have drawn the attention of the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City, Barcelona and Real Madrid who are all reported to be readying big-money bids.
Atletico are reluctant to talk terms, though, and are confident that their failure to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League will not work against them.
“The club has very clear ideas on this,” sporting director Jose Luis Caminero told AS.
“Falcao will remain at Atletico Madrid and any talk of an exit is misplaced.
“The striker will remain with us next season and we are not considering any other possibility.”
Caminero concedes that there may be market movement at Vicente Calderon, but insists ‘that will not affect the situation of Falcao’.
Atletico paid €40 million when they bought him in 2011 from Porto, with the fee potentially rising to 47 million based on performance-based clauses. If one of the big European clubs came in with an offer of €50milion would the Atletico board, and its bank managers be able to turn down that kind of bid?