Atletico Madrid have been hit by a bombshell with the agent of attacking midfielder Arda Turan declaring he wants to leave the club and move to the English Premier League.
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Turkey ace Turan has been a key performer for Diego Simeone’s men since signing from Galatasaray in 2011. But the 28 year-old, who has made 178 appearances and scored 22 goals for Atletico in the last four seasons, now believes the time is right to embark upon a new challenge in a new environment, according to his agent Ahmet Bulut.
144 – Arda Turan is the only Atletico player to have completed more than 100 dribbles in La Liga with Diego Simeone as manager. Ardaturanism
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) June 24, 2015
“His intention is to leave Spain this summer,” said Bulut. “His desire is to leave and to play in the Premier League – that is the path he would like to take.”
Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United are believed to be battling for his services, with Bulut adding: “We are currently in talks with three teams. I cannot reveal the names of the clubs but they are the best in England.”
Turan is also wanted by AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, but Bulut said: “The Italian team is not an option because they are not in the Champions League. PSG is a possibility but Arda always has wanted to play in England.”
There is better news for Atletico, however, from the agent of another important midfield man, Koke, who has been linked to Barcelona as part of the club’s presidential race.
The Spain international’s representative, Inaki Espizua, played down the suggestion that one or more of Barca’s wannabe presidents will seek to boost their popularity by pledging to snatch Koke away from Atletico, saying: “We are not surprised but still flattered.
“It’s great to hear these kinds of things, especially from a club like Barca, but right now the player’s position is very clear. He that feels he is a key part of Atletico Madrid’s plans.”
Manager Simeone is hoping to field Koke alongside Thiago Motta next season, with the veteran Italy international threatening to leave current club PSG after failing to agree terms on a new deal.
Motta spent one season with Atletico in 2007/8 and now could return after his agent Alessandro Canovi said: “At the moment, there is no possibility of continuing contract negotiations with PSG.”
One player certain to make the move to the Vicente Calderon is Porto striker Jackson Martinez, who will join Atletico in a €35million deal after Copa America.
Confirming the move, Martinez’s agent Luiz Henrique Pompeo said: “We want to thank Milan for their interest, but you can’t be in two places at once. Atletico is a very big club – Jackson is going there to become even better.”
Although Pompeo is Martinez’s representative, Portuguese super agent Jorge Mendes and associate Pedro Pinto were required to broker the deal between Porto and Atletico. Their connections at the highest levels of both clubs ensured the transfer occurred.
