Arsenal fans have been getting all the good news in the recent weeks and the reduction of tenure by Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone in his contract at the Spanish club by two years is another great news for the Gunners. Reports in the Spanish daily, AS, suggest that the Argentinian has held talks with the Atletico board and has decided to reduce his contract to 2018 as opposed to the contract previously ending in 2020.
The reports also suggest that Simeone will still be the highest paid manager in La Liga and the new contract means that any club willing to hire Simeone would now be able to get him by giving a much lower amount of compensation to Atletico. The news comes as a positive one for many top clubs in Europe including the likes of Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Inter Milan.
However, the news comes as a surprise to many in world football as very few coaches and boards of club agree on reducing the length of the contracts.
“The contract reduction is true. In two years' time we can renew, it doesn't mean it's the end.” – Simeone
The Gunners hierarchy is said to have already contacted the Argentine manager as the ideal replacement for Arsene Wenger at the Emirates when the Frenchman finally decides to call time on his tenure with the London club. Simeone is considered as one of the best young managers in the game and it is solely because of what he has achieved with the Rojiblancos.
Also Read: Where could Diego Simeone have gone if he hadn't chosen to reprise his role at Athletico Madrid?
If recent reports are to be believed, then the Argentine was also in the running to become the next Paris Saint-Germain manager after Laurent Blanc had left the club at the end of last season. However, Unai Emery took over the reigns of the Paris club as Simeone decided to stay with Atletico.
Inter Milan are also said to have been one of the clubs who were looking at getting the Argentine’s signature but Simeone has admitted recently that the Premier League is a “very attractive” option for him.
The reports in AS also suggest that the contract negotiations between Simeone and Atletico had begun after the club was unable to win the Champions League crown as they lost to city rivals Real Madrid in May. Atletico’s Chief Executive, Miguel Ángel Gil, had then insisted that the Spanish club would only allow their manager to leave if the release clause in his contract was met by the hiring clubs.
However, none of the clubs had decided to pay the release clause at that time and the Argentine decided to stay at the Vicente Calderon after his conditions were accepted in a new contract.
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