Jesus Garcia Pitarch says that both Aguero and Forlan are content at Atletico Madrid...
10 June 2009
Atletico Madrid's sporting director, Jesus Garcia Pitarch has assured the public that there have been no offers for Sergio Aguero nor Diego Forlan and they do not want to sell either player.
Both have been linked with a move away from the Vicente Calderon this summer with Chelsea reportedly lodging bid for Aguero this morning.
However, speaking to the press today, Pitarch insisted that "there is no offer for Kun Aguero" and said Atletico want to keep their star men.
"The club does not want either Forlan or Aguero to leave, even if someone pays their release clauses. We are not thinking about it because we do not want it to happen and do not expect it to. I have spoken with them and they have declared they wish to continue here, they are committed and thankful to the club. Our wish is that they don't leave, even with someone paying the release clause, but it is not up to us," Marca quote him as saying.
"There is no plan B if Forlan or Aguero leave, because that is bad to think about. We have our players and some are the best in the world, I think they are happy and if they were not they would not play well. This club is not smaller than others, but the feeling here can not be reproduced elsewhere."
Pitarch went onto emphasise that up to now there have been "no offers" for either player and that Forlan is happy at Atletico.
"Last year there were offers and they were turned down because the players said they wanted to stay. Nobody has said they want to leave, we have completed our objectives as a team and many players are reaching new heights and feeling like they haven't before. If this continues, they will stay," he said.
"Two months ago we met with his [Forlan's] agent and we know that he is happy here and, seeing as how things are going, there is a chance his contract could be improved."
With regards to next season, Pitarch said that it is "necessary to improve" the squad but they are working with a limited budget.
"We have to not spend more than €80 million and to limit the number of professional players to 20 or 21 so that the youngsters can have a greater part to play in the first team," he explained.
"We have built a team that can finish amongst the first three and reach a final and we can improve that team. It will be difficult given our financial situation but we will try to improve the squad as best we can."
Asked about specific players, Pitach revealed that "Maxi [Rodriguez] is not looking for another team" but that there has been interest for reserve players like Ignacio Camacho and Angel Bernabe.
He also spoke about some signings for next season, explaining the current situations of Sergio Asenjo and Juanito.
"There are negotiations underway with Valladolid for Asenjo, while Juanito is free after June 30 then we will make a bigger approach. The two players are next because they want to come. In the case of Sergio it is clear to me that big clubs want him, but he is determined to come to Atletico, that is something we like," he revealed.
Talking about the current first-choice goalkeeper Leo Franco, Pitarch admitted that he does not know what his future holds.
"We have spoken with him, offered him an amount, but there has not been any agreement and we have not received an answer. Then Leo Franco and his agent said they wanted to sit down, but that did not seem convenient with six games left. We do not know his decision. Yesterday I tried to speak with him and it was brief, but we will sit down and see," he concluded.
-www.goal.com
10 June 2009
Atletico Madrid's sporting director, Jesus Garcia Pitarch has assured the public that there have been no offers for Sergio Aguero nor Diego Forlan and they do not want to sell either player.
Both have been linked with a move away from the Vicente Calderon this summer with Chelsea reportedly lodging bid for Aguero this morning.
However, speaking to the press today, Pitarch insisted that "there is no offer for Kun Aguero" and said Atletico want to keep their star men.
"The club does not want either Forlan or Aguero to leave, even if someone pays their release clauses. We are not thinking about it because we do not want it to happen and do not expect it to. I have spoken with them and they have declared they wish to continue here, they are committed and thankful to the club. Our wish is that they don't leave, even with someone paying the release clause, but it is not up to us," Marca quote him as saying.
"There is no plan B if Forlan or Aguero leave, because that is bad to think about. We have our players and some are the best in the world, I think they are happy and if they were not they would not play well. This club is not smaller than others, but the feeling here can not be reproduced elsewhere."
Pitarch went onto emphasise that up to now there have been "no offers" for either player and that Forlan is happy at Atletico.
"Last year there were offers and they were turned down because the players said they wanted to stay. Nobody has said they want to leave, we have completed our objectives as a team and many players are reaching new heights and feeling like they haven't before. If this continues, they will stay," he said.
"Two months ago we met with his [Forlan's] agent and we know that he is happy here and, seeing as how things are going, there is a chance his contract could be improved."
With regards to next season, Pitarch said that it is "necessary to improve" the squad but they are working with a limited budget.
"We have to not spend more than €80 million and to limit the number of professional players to 20 or 21 so that the youngsters can have a greater part to play in the first team," he explained.
"We have built a team that can finish amongst the first three and reach a final and we can improve that team. It will be difficult given our financial situation but we will try to improve the squad as best we can."
Asked about specific players, Pitach revealed that "Maxi [Rodriguez] is not looking for another team" but that there has been interest for reserve players like Ignacio Camacho and Angel Bernabe.
He also spoke about some signings for next season, explaining the current situations of Sergio Asenjo and Juanito.
"There are negotiations underway with Valladolid for Asenjo, while Juanito is free after June 30 then we will make a bigger approach. The two players are next because they want to come. In the case of Sergio it is clear to me that big clubs want him, but he is determined to come to Atletico, that is something we like," he revealed.
Talking about the current first-choice goalkeeper Leo Franco, Pitarch admitted that he does not know what his future holds.
"We have spoken with him, offered him an amount, but there has not been any agreement and we have not received an answer. Then Leo Franco and his agent said they wanted to sit down, but that did not seem convenient with six games left. We do not know his decision. Yesterday I tried to speak with him and it was brief, but we will sit down and see," he concluded.
-www.goal.com
No comments:
Post a Comment