Way back in March, all the talk was about coronavirus, what happens with the Scottish league season and reported Rangers and Celtic links to Atletico Madrid youngster Rodrigo Riquelme.
The 20-year-old winger was the talk of Glasgow as reports claimed both sides were considering a move for the wonderkid who stole the show as the Atleti U19s downed their Rangers counterparts 4-0 in the UEFA Youth League.
According to reputable Spanish newspaper Marca, both Rangers and Celtic were looking at the player with his contract expiring in Madrid, so what happened?
Well, the youngster would be again be linked with Celtic by the Scottish Sun in April with no mention of Rangers.
But all those reports claiming that Riquelme’s contract was due to end this summer have now been rebuffed by AS Diario.
Back at the end of April, AS revealed that Riquelme’s contract actually expires in the summer of 2021.
This report acknowledges interest in the youngster from the Old Firm, whilst it also suggests the likes of Betis and Valencia in Spain and Ajax and PSV in Holland are keeping tabs.
It also claims anyone wanting to sign Riquelme now will have to meet his €30m (£27m) release clause.
AS have been told Riquelme’s contract situation will be resolved in the not so distant future, with the player considered amongst the brightest talents at the Wanda Metropolitano.
That future may well be in Madrid, after the youngster made his La Liga debut for Atletico this month.
Diego Simeone actually used him as a substitute in the Spanish club’s 2-0 win over Getafe in mid-July as the Spanish top tier begins to wind down.
So whilst Riquelme might’ve blown Rangers fans away in that UEFA Youth League game in February, any notion the Spanish wonderkid could be on the way to Ibrox appears to have been short-lived.
