Chelsea ‘held Diego Simeone talks before Antonio Conte landed lucrative job’ as Argentine’s future remains unclear
Atletico Madrid boss has signed a new contract with reduced length as reports claim Inter Milan and PSG also made moves
CHELSEA met with Diego Simeone’s agent before moving to hire Antonio Conte, according to reports.
Atletico Madrid fans are still in shock after the Argentine confirmed he had penned a new contract this month, reducing his stay by two years.
Simeone was due to stay with the club until 2020, but his deal will now expire in 2018 instead.
It’s believed the former international is looking for a fresh challenge, although he insists he remains committed to the Spaniards.
And prior to Atletico’s heart-breaking Champions League final defeat against Real Madrid – their second in three years – it seems Simeone was on the hunt for new surroundings.
Newspaper claims the 46-year-old was in contact with a number of elite European sides, including Chelsea.
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The Blues were on the hunt for a new boss following the sacking of Jose Mourinho, and turned to Simeone despite hiring Guus Hiddink as caretaker.
It’s reported that Simeone’s agent and sister, Natalia, flew to London for talks with Chelsea chiefs, but for reasons unknown the move never occurred and Roman Abramovich eventually settled on ex-Juventus gaffer Conte.
The report adds Simeone also held talks with Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain before they appointed Frank de Boer and Unai Emery respectively, and his new short-term contract indicates a Vicente Calderon exit is on the cards either this summer or the next.
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