Atletico denies Effenberg speculation

Effenberg, whose contract with Bayern Munich runs out in the summer, revealed in December that Atletico were interested in signing him and Marca said he was due to reopen talks with the club this weekend.

A statement released by Atletico on their Web site and quoting sporting director Paulo Futre stated categorically, however, that the club had decided against signing Effenberg back in December.

"Futre has discarded the option of signing the German player Stefan Effenberg, after the club decided it was not viable," the statement said.

Futre added in the statement: "We decided against the signing six weeks ago. It's completely ruled out.

"The player is in Madrid as a guest of someone else at the club -- not by the club's sporting department, who, I repeat, will not support his signing."

According to Marca's story, Effenberg, his wife and manager Martina and their children were picked up at the airport by Atletico president Jesus Gil's chauffeur and driven to a city hotel.

While Gil remains the club's president, Futre heads the sporting department that decides which players should be signed.

Atletico, relegated to Spain's division two in 2000, are firmly on course to regain their place in the top flight at the second attempt.

They currently lead the second division standings by seven points from closest challengers Xerez.

Effenberg is due to leave Bayern at the end of the season and has said he will not move to another German club. He has been linked with a move to the English premier league or Major League Soccer in the U.S.

The 33-year-old playmaker said before Christmas last year that he had had talks with Atletico.

"Atletico Madrid has put forward a concrete offer. The talks are going well. Atletico is a great traditional club and Madrid a super city," Effenberg said at the time.

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