Futre to leave Atlético
Friday, March 7, 2003
Article summary
Club Atlético de Madrid are to part company with sporting director Paulo Futre in the summer.
Article body
Troubled relationship
Futre, a former Atlético player and Portuguese international, will leave the post he has occupied since the 2000/01 campaign after a breakdown in relations with club president Jesús Gil. "We simply reached an understanding that it was not correct for us to continue working together," Gil said.
Atlético hero
Futre, whose contract has two years to run, will continue to work with coach Luis Aragonés and his players until the end of the season, on 30 June. The 37-year-old played for Atlético between 1987 and '93 before returning to the Vicente Calderón stadium to see out his career in the late 1990s. He subsequently rejoined the Rojiblancos, where he acted as a buffer between the club's owners, the Gil family, and coach Aragonés.
Financial problems
Futre is thought to have become frustrated by the financial instability at the club, which has prevented Atlético from dealing at the top end of the transfer market. "Futre is an important figure in the history of this club, but I don't need the concept of signing 'crack' players - they don't interest me any more," Gil said.
Two-year exile
Atlético were promoted back to the top flight last summer after an unprecedented two-year exile in the Segunda División. They are currently in seventh position in the table, a point off the UEFA Cup places.
