Wolfsburg midfielder Diego has rejected a lucrative offer from Qatar as he wants to play at Atletico Madrid next season.
The Brazil international is hoping for a return to the club he helped to Europa League success whilst on loan for the 2011-12 campaign and, according to AS, claims he has a verbal agreement with Atleti should the two clubs be able to agree a transfer fee.
The proposal from the Qatar Stars League is for €4m-a-year for however many seasons he chooses to remain as a player. Despite it being €1m less per annum than he earns at Wolfsburg – where his contract has just 12 months to run – if the 28-year-old moved to the Middle East then it would set him up financially for the rest of his career.
In previous interviews Diego has explained that his dream is to continue playing in Europe before eventually retiring to Brazil, but he is also very conscious of his family’s wishes and the fact his wife has expressed a desire to remain in Germany.
However, from a football viewpoint he is desperate to return to the Spanish capital and Wolfsburg are believed to be losing patience with him, as they are only aware of Los Rojiblancos’ interest through what they have read in the media.
The Bundesliga outfit return to pre-season training on June 26 and director of football Klaus Allofs wants to know first-hand what Diego’s future intentions are.
“We also have to plan our season,” he commented.
