Atletico keen to keep duo

Maniche and Reyes remain in club's plans

By Lucas Brown   Last updated: 24th June 2008

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Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has reiterated the club's desire to hold onto midfielder Maniche and winger Jose Antonio Reyes.

Portugal international Maniche spent the second half of last season on loan at Serie A side Internazionale, with the option of making the deal permanent.

Reyes, meanwhile, has been linked with a summer move to Newcastle United despite only signing at Vicente Calderon from Arsenal last July.

But Cerezo is adamant the duo remain in head coach Javier Aguirre's plans ahead of the new Primera Division campaign.

Stay

"They are two players that form part of the squad and they are exactly the same as everyone else. Maniche and the rest are still all players of Atletico Madrid," Cerezo told reporters.

Cerezo went on to deny rumours linking goalkeeper Leo Franco with a return to his homeland in Argentina.

"I am going to Argentina this week, but I will not be meeting with anyone from River Plate to talk about Leo Franco," he explained.

"He is our goalkeeper, he is happy at the club and I expect him to stay."

Surprises

Cerezo also confirmed that Atletico are keen to bolster their squad this summer, with reports speculating they are lining up swoops for a midfielder and a striker.

"There are going to surprises and they will be very good ones," Cerezo said. "We hope to close the deals that we currently have in our hands."