Atletico president Cerezo plays down club's interest in James Rodriguez

Posted Wednesday, July 17, 2019 by Goal.com

The club boss claimed reports of his side moving for the Real Madrid ace we something of a stretch at this point

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo denied James Rodriguez is poised to join the La Liga side, adding there have not been negotiations for the Real Madrid midfielder.

Tipped to move to Napoli throughout the off-season, Atletico have reportedly emerged as the favourites to sign James as the Italian outfit and Madrid struggle to reach an agreement.

James is set to leave Madrid following a two-year loan spell at Bayern Munich, who opted not to make the deal permanent at the end of 2018-19.

Asked about Colombia star James, Cerezo told reporters: "Atletico are interested in great players and James is a great player, but from that to he's going to come, there's some distance.

"Negotiations? Not that I know of, no."

Atletico have been busy in the transfer market, breaking a club record to sign Portuguese sensation Joao Felix, while also adding Marcos Llorente, Hector Herrera, Felipe, Renan Lodi and Ivan Saponjic following the departures of stars like Antoine Griezmann, Rodri, Lucas Hernandez and Diego Godin.

Diego Simeone's transfer business is far from over, however, with Tottenham right-back Kieran Trippier and Espanyol defender Mario Hermoso reportedly close to moving to the Spanish capital.

"We've had a few signings and are in negotiations for a few more," Cerezo said. "Negotiations can end well or badly, but there are negotiations.

"Everything's going well, the team is training well, blending in well and very happy at Los Angeles de San Rafael. Now we're waiting for next season with a month left to go."

The summer marks a bit of a rebuild for the club, who have seen a sustained run of success since Simeone took over late in 2011.

The club have won the Europa League twice, La Liga once, the Copa del Rey, the Spanish Super Cup and finished as runners-up in the Champions League behind a team built around a fierce defensive unit.

But with key players leaving the club, bringing in a host of new talent will test the manager's ability to get a relatively new group up to speed on his intensive style of play ahead of the new campaign.