Joao Miranda last week asked Atlético's football programme management team to look at one of the two offers that have come in for him. The clubs interested in acquiring his services, Barcelona and Manchester United, have offered him significantly better contracts to the one he is currently under at the Calderón.

With that on the table, the centre-back feels the time could be right to say goodbye to the 'rojiblancos' and take his career in another direction. Neither Barça nor United have given him any assurances, however, that they are prepared to pay his buy-out clause.

The Brazilian's future, therefore, remains firmly in the hands of the Manzanares club management which have stressed, from the minute the market opened, that they will not be dropping the price tag for any players they believe to be important to the stability of the team. So, either Miranda comes up with the 30 million his freedom costs, or he will be reporting for duty with 'El Cholo' on 7th July.

Atlético do not want to be inflexible, however, and are willing to review some points of the defender's contract so that he is rewarded for the contribution he made during the just completed historic season, which a month ago delivered the club's tenth la Liga title.