Atletico outline summer plans

Spaniards weigh up transfer options

By Lucas Brown   Last updated: 30th May 2008  

Atletico outline summer plans

Marquez: Top target

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Atletico Madrid have abandoned plans to make moves for Diego, Rafael van der Vaart, Lucho Gonzalez or Tiago, but are still very interested in Barcelona's Rafael Marquez according to their sporting director.

Jesus Garcia Pitarch revealed that the club were not willing to upset their current wage structure to secure players who would command large transfer fees and salaries.

Atletico have been strongly linked with the four stars, but will not be making any effort to sign them unless they decide to sell one of their own top earners.

Distort

"They have discarded themselves with their price and with their salary," Pitarch told Marca.

"They are great football players, but they could only come if other great players left. That is something we will have to look at.

"Also, it would distort the evenly distributed wages of the squad, which at the moment are very fair."

Leader

Two players that have already been signed are Tomas Ujfalusi from Fiorentina and John Heitinga from Ajax and Pitarch is adamant that they have signed the right players.

"One was the captain of his club team and also of his national team while the other is a leader in the changing room," he continued.

"They are both players with experience, character, competitiveness and personality. That is why we wanted them in our squad."

Options

Finally, Pitarch explained that Marquez is a player that Atletico could make an approach for with his position at Barca still undecided.

"(Javier) Aguirre has put Marquez's name to us, that is true. We have a plan to buy a defensive midfielder and if possible one that can also play in the centre of defence," he added.

"On the table at the moment we have various names and Marquez is one of them."