La Liga Chief Drops Bombshell Claim: Atletico Madrid Tried to "Pull Out" of Gallagher Deal
It’s been a whirlwind few days for Conor Gallagher and his potential transfer to Atletico Madrid. The Chelsea academy graduate seemed set to join the Spanish giants after months of speculation, but things took a surprising turn. And now, a La Liga chief has claimed that Atletico Madrid tried to "pull out" of the deal.
What Happened?
Atletico Madrid agreed to sign Gallagher for £36 million, but just moments before the transfer deadline, they accepted a £25 million offer for 20-year-old midfielder Javi Guerra from Valencia. Valencia sporting director Miguel Angel Corona claims that Atletico Madrid reached out to them and asked to cancel the Guerra deal after Gallagher expressed doubts about joining the club.
Corona’s Claims
In an interview with Relevo, Corona said, "There was an agreement on Sunday… documentation is being filled out with the player. And on Wednesday morning, given the delay in the return of documents, there is a question towards Atletico Madrid, what is the situation, and they tell us that they are trying to get out of Chelsea’s operation with Gallagher."
The Fallout
Gallagher ultimately decided to join Atletico Madrid, and the deal went ahead as planned. But Valencia pulled out of the Guerra deal, and it seems that their trust in Atletico Madrid has been shattered.
The Impact on Gallagher
For Gallagher, joining a club that reportedly tried to get out of the agreement to sign him is a strange situation. One that could leave a bad taste in his mouth, and raise questions about the authenticity of the deal.
The Collapse of the Deal
The collapse of the deal would have complicated Chelsea’s expected signing of Samu Omorodion from Atletico in a separate £34.5m deal. The Spanish club is using to fund their £81.5m capture of Julian Alvarez from Manchester City.
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