Celtic “have asked” Atletico Madrid about reported Rangers target and young Spaniard Rodrigo Riquelme after the La Liga side changed their tune about his availability.
That’s according to Mundo Deportivo, via Sport Witness, who believe the Parkhead club have launched a move given the restructuring of Spanish lower league football amid the Covid crisis.
Atletico Madrid are likely to see numerous youth players leave during the period and with Riquelme’s contract up next summer, the talented right-winger could be one of them.
Both Rangers and Celtic were linked to the player by reputable Spanish outlet Marca in March after the 20-year-old caught the eye of Gers fans in a youth game earlier in the year.
The Gers U19s were dumped by their Atleti equivalents 4-0 in a UEFA Youth League match last season with Riquelme stealing the show.
But both sides were to be left disappointed amid reports the player’s contract expired this summer, with AS Diario claiming that his current deal still had a year to run.
Whilst the Spanish newspaper acknowledged the reported Old Firm interest, they claimed that anyone wanting the player would have to meet his extravagant £27m (€30m) release clause.
That report also claimed that Riquelme’s contract was set to be renewed with the player amongst the brightest talents at the Wanda Metropolitano.
With the player also being linked to the likes of Betis and Valencia in Spain and Ajax and PSV in Holland, should the suggestion Atletico are now willing to sell be true there will be much competition for the player’s signature.
It remains to be seen if that involves Rangers but rivals Celtic are reportedly still keen on the player.
