• Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • Lionel Messi
    • Cristiano Ronaldo
    • EA FC 25
    • Wrexham
  • Boxing
    • Tyson Fury
    • Anthony Joshua
    • Oleksandr Usyk
    • Mike Tyson
    • Jake Paul
    • Logan Paul
  • UFC
    • Dana White
    • Conor McGregor
    • Khabib Nurmagomedov
    • Jon Jones
    • Paddy Pimblett
    • Joe Rogan
  • Other Sport
    • Athletics
    • Formula 1
    • MMA
    • Motorsport
    • NBA
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Snooker
    • Wrestling
    • Tennis
    • Cricket
    • Golf
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Atletico Madrid 'tried to pull out of Conor Gallagher deal' as La Liga club chief reveals WhatsApp messages and calls

Home> Football> Football News> Chelsea

Published 14:41 8 Aug 2024 GMT+1

Atletico Madrid 'tried to pull out of Conor Gallagher deal' as La Liga club chief reveals WhatsApp messages and calls

The La Liga club chief has made a shocking claim.

Alex Brotherton

Alex Brotherton

One La Liga chief has claimed that WhatsApp messages prove that Atletico Madrid tried to 'pull out' of their deal to sign Conor Gallagher from Chelsea.

Chelsea have made plenty of new signings this summer, but that has necessitated a few outgoings too.

After months of speculation, Conor Gallagher looks set to join Atletico Madrid after the two clubs agreed upon a £36 million fee.

Advert

At first it looked like the Chelsea academy graduate would reject the move, but on Thursday he flew to Madrid to undergo medical tests and sign a five-year contract.

Because of Gallagher's hesitation, Atletico had a back-up plan lined up.

The Spanish giants reached an agreement to sign 20-year-old midfielder Javi Guerra from Valencia for an initial fee of €25m (£21.5m), plus a reported €5m (£4.3m) in add-ons.

Advert

However, when Gallagher agreed to join Atletico minutes before their self-imposed deadline, Diego Simeone's side were left with two incoming recruits for the same position.

There have been reports that Guerra, who has been training alone in Valencia and had his medical booked in Madrid for Tuesday, would join Atletico anyway.

But Valencia sporting director Miguel Angel Corona has revealed his club pulled out of the move once they learned of Atletico's plan.

Conor Gallagher captained Chelsea last season (Image: Getty)
Conor Gallagher captained Chelsea last season (Image: Getty)

Advert

Speaking to Relevo, Corona claimed: "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.

"It was the first news that we and Javi Guerra had about it, that both operations were linked, and we got out of there.

"There had been constant exchange of calls, WhatsApps… And at no time had they notified us."

Advert

If Corona's claims are true, then it appears that Valencia lost trust in Atletico.

For Gallagher, joining a club that reportedly tried to get out of the agreement to sign him is a strange situation.

The collapse of the deal would have complicated Chelsea's expected signing of Samu Omorodion from Atletico in a separate £34.5m deal, which the Spanish club is using to fund their £81.5m capture of Julian Alvarez from Manchester City.

Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Conor Gallagher, La Liga, Premier League, Transfer News

Alex Brotherton
Alex Brotherton

Alex Brotherton is a journalist at SPORTbible. He has previously worked with publications including the Manchester Evening News, GOAL and BBC Sport. He is a football fanatic, but also dabbles in tennis and American football. He can often be found watching dreadful non-league football.

X

@alex_brotherton

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Conor Gallagher given bizarre new nickname by Atletico Madrid hours after joining from Chelsea
  • Conor Gallagher will be registered as EU player at Atletico Madrid due to clever 'loophole'
  • Conor Gallagher sends stadium wild by speaking Spanish during Atletico Madrid unveiling after Chelsea transfer
  • Diego Simeone goes wild on touchline after seeing what Conor Gallagher did in final moments of Atletico Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao

Choose your content:

12 mins ago
2 hours ago
3 hours ago
  • 12 mins ago

    Sporting president sends brutal threat to Viktor Gyokeres in new statement as Arsenal target fails to return to training

    Viktor Gyokeres continues to be linked with a move away from Sporting Clube de Portugal.

    Football
  • 2 hours ago

    Premier League club 'ready to sell' key player this summer to avoid Real Madrid free transfer

    Real Madrid are preparing to secure another Premier League star as a free agent.

    Football
  • 3 hours ago

    Liverpool handed huge Alexander Isak boost as Newcastle hijack deal for Manchester United target

    Arne Slot could yet secure his dream signing as Newcastle has launched a surprise pursuit of a new player.

    Football
  • 3 hours ago

    Man Utd fans can't believe how much Juventus have offered for Jadon Sancho after Fabrizio Romano's three-player swap deal claim

    Jadon Sancho has been linked with a move away from Manchester United.

    Football