Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes has confirmed talks with Atletico Madrid but denied a deal had been concluded.
Reports in both Marca and Diario AS have said that a €30m deal with Atletico Paranaense has virtually been done to take the player to Los Rojiblancos in January.
“Atletico Madrid are my preference for my transfer, but I also have other proposals. I don't know what can happen, but what I can say is that I did my part on the pitch. Now I have to put my future in the hands of those who run the business side,” Guimaraes is cited as saying by Marca.
Rodrigo Gama, a lawyer for the Brazilian club, is said to have travelled to Madrid to negotiate the terms with a deal expected for this winter.
“If I really go there (Atleti), I know it is a great club that plays Champions League,” Guimaraes was previously cited as saying by Marca.
“I rejected several proposals, the fans know it, the board knows it and all my staff knows it, in order to pursue the dream of going to European football.”
The player has refused to renew his deal with Paranaense, with whom he has a contract until 2023, and he wants to join Los Rojiblancos.
It is the same club from which Atleti signed full-back Renan Lodi this summer and their interest in Guimaraes has been long-standing, the report adds.
Chelsea, Benfica and Porto are all said to have had an interest in signing the defensive midfielder, meaning the Spanish capital club had to act.
Bruno Guimaraes has played seven matches in the Copa Libertadores this season, where he scored two goals and provided two assists – with champions Flamengo also linked.
He is said to be a technical player, with the ability to join the attack and, above all, a great interpretation of the game – with his breaking up of play highly valued.
