Chelsea warned off Diego Simeone by Atletico Madrid as Blues widen manager search after missing top targets

Back off: Ateltico Madrid have warned Chelsea against launching a bid for their manager
(JAVIER SORIANO/AFP/Getty Images)
Simon Johnson29 January 2016

Atletico Madrid today issued Chelsea a hands-off warning over their coach Diego Simeone and insisted he is staying at Vicente Calderon.

Simeone is one of Chelsea's main targets to become the next permanent manager in the summer and Atletico have also told them that star forward Antoine Griezmann is not for sale too.

Despite working with a limited budget, Simeone is once again challenging for the La Liga title, with Atletico currently only trailing Barcelona on goal difference.

The former Argentina international only signed a new-five year deal last summer, although it does include a buy-out clause worth £15m.

But Atletico president Enrique Cerezo is adamant that the 45-year-old will see it out and said: "We have a coach who has a winning culture. Simeone has offered us come incredible years.

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"The mood of everyone is that Diego continues with us. He has a long-term contract and for us he is very important."

Atletico's stance will come as a blow to Chelsea, as well as Manchester United, who are also looking at Simeone as a potential successor to Louis van Gaal.

The Blues currently have Guus Hiddink in charge for the rest of the season following the dismissal of Jose Mourinho last month.

Owner Roman Abramovich made Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola his first choice to take over at the end of the season, but Manchester City look certain to win the race.

Simeone was next in line for the post because of his superb record in Spain and ability to work with young players.

Chelsea have broadened their search in case the top two names on the list weren't available and Italy coach Antonio Conte and Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri are being considered.

Of the pair, a move for Conte is easier because his deal with Italy expires after Euro 2016, while Allegri is committed to Juventus until 2017.

Both are highly regarded within the Chelsea hierarchy, while the club continue to be linked with a number of other managers including Maurico Pochettino, Didier Deschamps, Mark Hughes and former boss Claudio Ranieri.

But Chelsea hoped acquiring Simeone would also help them in their bid to sign Atletico's best players, including Griezmann, Koke and as Standard Sport revealed yesterday, Jose Gimenez.

Chelsea have admired Griezmann, who has scored 20 goals this term, for the past few years, but Cerezo states they have no chance with him either.

He added: "Griezmann is a global football star. Griezmann has a long-term contract and no-one has spoken to us about a possible transfer.

"He is a world football star and he still has plenty of time with us and Atletico will allow him to go as high (in the game) as possible."

The 24-year-old, who is set to have the buy-out clause in his contract increased from £61m to £76m, admitted earlier this week he isn't looking force a move away from Atletico.

He said: “When the boss (Simeone) told the press that I’m such an important player, it made me want to stay even more.

"I wasn’t looking for another team or anything, but now I think about it even less."

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