ATLETICO MADRID boss Diego Simeone has confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo will not be joining the club next summer.
The Spanish giants were linked with an audacious swoop for wantaway Ronaldo during the summer transfer window, but many fans were strictly against the move.
One group of Atletico supporters even issued a statement suggesting that the Portugal skipper “represents the antithesis of the values” of the club.
Although a move failed to materialise in the summer, Los Colchoneros have continued to be linked with Ronaldo, who spent nine years with the club’s rivals Real Madrid before moving to Juventus in 2018.
Some reports have suggested that Atletico will look to complete a deal next summer.
However, Simeone has since shut down all rumours, claiming that he has no interest in signing the Manchester United star.
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The Argentine boss told Spanish football reporter Martin Liberman: “Cristiano Ronaldo’s possible arrival at Atlético in the summer?
“The little birds told you anything far from what happened.
“People speak sometimes to tell what they want to tell, not reality.”
Ronaldo has been pushing for a move away from Old Trafford since July.
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Numerous clubs expressed an interest in signing him, including Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Napoli, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona and Sporting Lisbon, but the five-time Ballon d’Or winner was not granted an escape route.
Ronaldo has had to settle for limited minutes so far this season following the resurgence of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk