Atletico Madrid competing with Real for Reyes

Deutsche Presse Agentur
Published: Wednesday August 23, 2006

Madrid- Spanish football club Atletico Madrid revealed on Wednesday that they have offered 12 million euros (15.4 million dollars) to England's Arsenal for Jose Antonio Reyes. This means that Atletico are competing with crosstown rivals Real Madrid for the Spanish World Cup striker.

Arsenal are asking for 18 million euros for Reyes. Atletico, however, hope that Arsenal will accept a lower offer from then since they are reluctant to sell him to Real.

Earlier on Wednesday, Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger declared that he didn't want to sell Reyes to Real because of the way that Real had made an illegal approach to the player two months ago.

Reyes told Spanish news agency EFE on Wednesday that Arsenal had "prohibited" him from speaking about any transfer.

© 2006 DPA - Deutsche Presse-Agenteur