Monday saw Spanish newspaper AS report Manchester City have made a huge offer for Jose Gimenez. The amount was put at €89m plus a further €5m in bonuses payments, making a total deal worth €94m.
Quickly, claims came from Mundo Deportivo and Marca that Atletico Madrid had dismissed the offer and would only accept a move for the player’s €120m buyout clause. Even then, it was stated the defender wasn’t keen on a transfer anyway.
With the way the reports came, it didn’t take too much cynicism to believe Atletico president Miguel Ángel Gil Marín was behind it all, given the story made him look strong in the face of transfer pressure.
Marca pick it up again on Thursday, and say Atletico ‘insist’ they’ve received an offer worth around €100m from Manchester City, but aren’t willing to talk at that figure.
It’s acknowledged that sources closer to City put any offer at €50m plus bonuses.
Pep Guardiola is said to like Gimenez’s playing level and especially his character, believing he could be a leader at the back for the Premier League club.
According to Marca, Guardiola has been following the player since the manager was at Bayern Munich.
