Real Madrid: Atlético Madrid given price for Marcos Llorente
Atlético spoke to the player's representatives on Thursday and were told that Real don't want the midfielder to move across town, and quoted a price accordingly.
Atlético Madrid are preparing for the worst in terms of Manchester City’s pursuit of Spain midfielder Rodri and are stepping up their attempts to lure Marcos Llorente across the Spanish capital from Real Madrid.
Atlético tried to snap up the 24-year-old last summer but the player preferred to try his luck at Madrid, a club steeped in his family’s history. However, the return of Zinedine Zidane appears to have opened the door for Llorente to leave, with the midfielder not in the Frenchman’s plans for next season.
Although a direct move to Atlético would be a surprise, given the circumstances and other offers on the table for Llorente, Diego Simeone is determined to try and persuade both player and club to agree to the transfer and has made preliminary contact with Llorente’s representatives, according to Spanish radio station Cadena Ser.
Atlético quoted €50m for Llorente
The meeting reportedly took place on Thursday and Atlético were told in no uncertain terms that Real Madrid are not keen on the idea of Llorente, a scion of the revered Gento family, donning the red and white next season and accordingly named their price for the midfielder: 50 million euros.
Manchester City are widely reported to be prepared to meet Rodri’s buy-out clause of €70m and are set to pocket €105m at least from the sale of Antoine Griezmann but Real are not ruling out selling Llorente to a Premier League suitor for less in order to keep him from the clutches of Atlético.
However, there are reasons for Llorente to be keen on the move, not least because Atlético can offer Champions League football and he would not be required to leave the capital.