Atlético fans protest to demand Godín contract renewal
The Atlético captain has yet to agree terms and his future looks uncertain at the club, which has a strict policy on offering players over 30 a maximum one-year contract.
Dozens of Atlético fans congregated at the club’s ‘Courage and Heart’ motto in front of the Wanda Metropolitano stadium before the game against the Levante on Sunday to demand the renewal of captain Diego Godín’s contract.
The initiative was organized by the International Union of Atlético Madrid Supporters Clubs (La Unión Internacional de Peñas), who urged fans to come to protest for the 32-year-old Uruguayan, who has just six months left on his current deal and has yet to come to an agreement with the club.
His defensive partners, Spaniard Juanfran and Brazilian Luis Felipe, both 33, also have just six months remaining on their contracts and have still not agreed new terms with Atlético, which has a strict policy on offering players over 30 years old a maximum one-year contract.
The club has offered Godín a one-year extension plus the option of an additional year and is unwilling to change its renewal policy for players over 30 years – the same as they had previously done for Fernando Torres and Gabi, who are now playing their football in Japan and Qatar, respectively.
Eduardo Fernández, president of the Godín de Majadahonda supporters club, situated in the Madrid suburb of Majadahonda, said the club should offer the 32-year-old a contract for several years, in appreciation of the love he has shown for the club love since joining in 2010.
Godín has long been a fan favourite and is fondly remembered for scoring the equalizing goal in the dying minutes of the final game of the LaLiga season against Barcelona, which clinched the title for Atlético. But as it stands, his future at the club remains in doubt, something which has piqued the interest of several top clubs, including Manchester United.
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