La Liga

Atletico Turn Down Real Bid For Forlan

According to Diego Forlan, Atletico Madrid have turned down a offer for rivals Real Madrid for him.

“Real Madrid contacted (Atletico’s majority shareholder) Miguel Angel Gil and he rejected the offer,” said Forlan. “Gil spoke with my representative and told them he had rejected it and there’s nothing more to add. The rest is speculation.”

Forlan, who was voted player of the World Cup finals in South Africa last year, is constantly linked with a move away from Atletico but he says that he is happy in Madrid and wants to see out his contract which runs until 2013.

“Whatever I say it is always going to be misinterpreted, I just try to be as honest as possible,” Forlan added. “It’s the media who are always looking for an exit for me. I’ve been here three years and it has never passed through my head to leave. I would love to complete my contract, even though you know what football is like, but that is my intention.”

Atletico’s players are attracting a lot of attention across Europe at the moment. Earlier this week, Gil also said he had rejected approaches from Chelsea for Argentina striker Sergio Aguero and Uruguay defender Diego Godin, while goalkeeper David De Gea has lot been a target of Manchester United.