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Are Man United likely to get Atletico Madrid's Koke?

Listen to the full interview via the Off The Ball Football Show podcast. Manchester United have b...
Newstalk
Newstalk

22.42 12 Dec 2013


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Are Man United likely to get A...

Are Man United likely to get Atletico Madrid's Koke?

Newstalk
Newstalk

22.42 12 Dec 2013


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Listen to the full interview via the Off The Ball Football Show podcast.

Manchester United have been linked with a host of midfielders since the summer transfer window closed.

The latest is Atletico Madrid's Koke. A playmaker, who came through Los Colchoneros' academy, Koke has been making waves in La Liga and the Champions League. 

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The 21-year Spain international has the joint highest number of assists in La Liga this season in an Atletico side which has been putting it up to Spain's big two over the past 18 months.

David Moyes was at the Vicente Calderon Stadium to watch Atletico Madrid's 2 - 0 win over FC Porto in the Champions League.

But does the Manchester United manager stand any chance of getting his hands on one of the world's most promising midfielders?

Our European football correspondent Graham Hunter says he feels sorry for any United fans who have had their hopes raised by expectation of Koke's arrival and believes that Moyes was at the game for "reasons other than Koke".

"I think times have changed a little bit. At the moment, it is important to understand that [Atletico] are building. Koke is absolutely a part of that. [Atletico manager] Diego Simeone says the spine is essential and that means Thibaut Courtois, Koke, Gabi and Diego Costa. If Koke were to say he was not happy and wants to leave, it would be different. But at the moment it is utterly different. He is central. The connection between him and Diego Costa is umbilical and he is providing something like 90 per cent of the goal assists for Costa. 

"Already Vicente Del Bosque realizes that Koke could play in place of Xavi or Busquets at the World Cup. There is an enormous amount there in this player. What would interest Man United and other clubs is that he is robust and could cope with the physical nature of the Premier League. But I don't think there is a possibility of Atletico Madrid selling him for anything other than an extraordinary fee."


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