Nico Gaitan stays at Atletico LaLiga - Atletico Madrid Won't accept Zenit's offer

After Atletico Madrid rejected the offer presented by Zenit St. Petersburg, Nico Gaitan will remain in the Spanish capital.

The Russian club proposed a loan for the next five months - he would play 11 home games plus the Europa League - for a figure of around 2 million euros, but the Rojiblancos dismissed it out of hand.

In view of the fact that Zenit doesn't intend raising its offer, and that Atletico aren't willing to compromise either - their initial position was to achieve a transfer of around 20m euros -, Gaitan will end the current year under Diego Simeone, as he won't play in other leagues with the transfer market still open, such as China.

The Argentinian's challenge now is to try to convince Cholo and recover the level that led him to become a legend at Benfica and in the Portuguese League.

His coach will not close the door on him, but clearly Gaitan will have to work at his absolute maximum to be in with a chance of staking a claim for a permanent home in the Atleti starting XI.