Bournemouth have signed Rangers linked wonderkid Rodrigo Riquelme on a season-long loan deal from Atletico Madrid [afcb.co.uk].
Riquelme starred for Atletico in their UEFA Youth League win over Rangers at Firhill in February and in the weeks after that match, it was reported that both the Gers and Celtic were interested in his signature [Marca].
The 20-year-old winger was said to have a €30 million release clause in his contract [Scotsman] and clubs across Europe, including Fenerbahce [Fanatik], were also linked with his signature.
The Rangers links died down over the course of the summer, but it turns out that Atletico were willing to let the exciting youngster leave the Wanda Metropolitano, despite him making the bench for eleven La Liga matches last season.
Bournemouth have snapped him up on a season-long loan deal and have also negotiated an option to buy clause.
“I am very happy to be here,” Riquelme told afcbTV. “Bournemouth is a very good club and this was the right move for me.”
“I came here to improve myself and to help the team get back to the Premier League, which is where this club should be. I am excited to get started.”
Bournemouth chief executive Neill Blake hailed the signing, referring to the Spaniard as one of the ‘brightest young players around.’
The Cherries were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2019/20 campaign but have responded well to dropping to the second tier, taking ten points from their opening four matches to go top of the Championship table.
Rangers haven’t signed any out-and-out wingers this summer and have allowed the likes of Jamie Murphy and Jake Hastie to head out on loan.
However, Brandon Barker is showing signs of promise after a disappointing first season and Jordan Jones starred in the 5-1 hammering of Motherwell last weekend.
