Atlético agrees to pay R$ 23 million to acquire Forlán.
The president of the Minas Gerais club traveled to Europe and maintains his bet on signing the Uruguayan player, elected the best of the 2010 World Cup. But he admits that the chance of success is only 10%.
Minas 247 - Atlético Mineiro keeps alive the fans' dream of having Uruguayan striker Forlán on the team. The player, elected the best of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, is expensive, but the president of Galo, Alexandre Kalil, is not giving up. According to the newspaper Estado de Minas, Kalil, who is in Europe, says he is willing to pay 6 million euros (about R$ 14 million) to have Forlán. An additional 4 million euros (R$ 9 million) should be added to this amount.
Read the text by the journalist below. Jaeci Carvalho, from State of Minas:
Atlético Madrid yesterday offered Diego Forlán €6 million (approximately R$14,2 million), but would also have to pay Inter Milan €4 million (over R$9 million). Even at such a high price, the Uruguayan striker remains president Alexandre Kalil's bet for the coming seasons and to win back a national title. After paying off R$70 million in club debts, he decided to spend on signings, such as striker Jô and full-back Júnior César, which are practically certain.
Kalil met all day yesterday in Madrid with Forlán's agents. In an extra effort to satisfy the fans – who chanted the star's name at Independência stadium during the match against Goiás in the Copa do Brasil – he offered 6 million euros for a three-year contract to secure the best player of the 2010 World Cup. The agents agreed to speak with the player, who is currently with his national team, and hope to finalize the deal in the coming days.
The Atlético president believes the chance of completing the signing is 10%, but insists on it because he understands it would be the key to winning the Brazilian Championship. "I made an offer that was never imagined because I want the player and what's best for Atlético," he told Estado de Minas exclusively. Kalil knows that the Brazilian press doubts the transaction, believing that only clubs from Rio and São Paulo would risk such a significant amount, but if the fans analyze it objectively, they will realize that Kléber earns around R$ 700 per month at Grêmio and Ronaldinho Gaúcho R$ 1,2 million at Flamengo.
“I just can’t be irresponsible. I want the best for my club and my fans, but I can’t spend beyond what the budget allows. I even have the urge to be irresponsible, like many, but I’m not like that. If an Atlético fan asks me today, Monday, here in Madrid, I’ll say that I think it’s difficult to close the deal, but Forlán’s agents will present the numbers to him and things could change. Atlético is paying what few clubs would pay, and I know the player is eager to play for our team. He has already told his agents how much he wants to come to Cidade do Galo,” he stated.
Even though he was unprepared to stay longer in Europe after watching the Champions League final, Kalil traveled from Munich to Madrid and even did laundry at the hotel so he could spend the whole day with Forlán's agents. “This is nothing new. I stayed in Ukraine for five days with just one piece of clothing to sign Guilherme, and it worked out. I just don't want to mislead the fans. I'm doing everything possible to sign Forlán, but now it's no longer up to me. The offer is fantastic, but I have a responsibility. I've reached my limit because I think the fans deserve it. As a fan, I'd love to have a star player like him on the team. I know it would be the start of our success.”
Among those involved in the deal is Uruguayan Edgar Goulart, who is trying to convince the other businessmen and the player himself to transfer to Atlético. “We are doing everything to make it work, but the final decision rests with the player. Kalil has done everything possible to sign him; he is a serious manager and has honored his promises. Now it's in Forlán's hands, but this type of negotiation isn't resolved overnight. I believe that by the end of the week, the Galo fans will be able to celebrate this signing. It's what we all want and what the player himself wants. He already knows everything about Belo Horizonte, Cidade do Galo, and the club. We'll see if the numbers will satisfy him.”
Kalil is returning to Brazil early today, but remains in contact with the Uruguayan player's agents and may return to Europe if necessary. He is convinced that his team will not just be a contender in the Brazilian Championship. He believes that, with the signings already made and if he has Forlán, he will be a direct contender for the title.