Los rojiblancos had offered ‚é¼9 million as well as three players - Gonzalo Colsa, Ivan Amaya Carazo and Garba Lawal, having admitted that they needed to trim their squad, but this was not acceptable to Mallorca.
Colsa, probably the top-rated player in the trio was the Spanish Under-21 captain and is a midfielder of high regard, but Mallorca refused to accept the offer.
Indeed, Mallorca were happy to agree to Colsa and only requested another ‚é¼1.25 million, but did not want to take the wage burden that Lawal and Amaya would present.
This could open the door for the likes of Middlesbrough who had been linked to the player, although with the signing of Juninho and probable transfer of George Boateng, theoretically Steve McClaren has a strong midfield.
Luis Aragones, the Atletico coach, was desperate to get Ibagaza back under his wing, having previously coached him at Las Palmas.
It would now appear that Aragones has switched targets, with Barcelona's Luis Garcia in his sights.
