MADRID, July 29, 2008 (AFP) - Atletico Madrid's Portugal international midfielder Maniche, loaned out to Inter Milan last season after a falling out with manager Javier Aguirre, is sticking with the Spanish club next season.

'There is no Maniche case, the problem is sorted out, he's an Atletico player,' club president Enrique Cerezo said.

MADRID, July 25, 2008 (AFP) - Atletico Madrid's Portugal international Maniche, loaned out to Inter Milan last season after a falling out with manager Javier Aguirre, says he wants to see out his contract with the Spanish club.

MADRID, July 10, 2008 (AFP) - Real Madrid have offered 20 million euros (31.4 million dollars) to sign Hamburg midfielder Rafael van der Vaart for five seasons, Spanish sports daily Marca said Thursday.

MADRID, July 9, 2008 (AFP) - Atletico Madrid has offered 15 million euros (23.5 million dollars) for Hamburg midfielder Rafael van der Vaart, Spanish sports daily AS reported Wednesday.

The 25-year-old Dutch international 'is the man who Atletico are looking for to close the chapter on their recruitment,' the newspaper wrote.

MADRID, July 6, 2008 (AFP) - Atletico Madrid announced Sunday the signing of Brazilian midfielder Paulo Assuncao from Portuguese first division side Porto for an undisclosed fee.

The 28-year-old will join his new teammates at Atletico on Monday, the Spanish club said in a statement posted on its website without specifying the length of his contract.

MADRID, July 6, 2008 (AFP) - Atletico Madrid announced Sunday the signing of Brazilian midfielder Paulo Assuncao from Portuguese first division side Porto for an undisclosed fee.

The 28-year-old will join his new teammates at Atletico on Monday, the Spanish club said in a statement posted on its website without specifying the length of his contract.

MADRID, July 3, 2008 (AFP) - Spanish first division side Atletico Madrid said Thursday it had signed French striker Florent Sinama Pongolle from Recreativo Huelva for four seasons.

The club gave no financial details.

Pongolle, 23, scored 22 goals in his 67 appearances for Recreativo over the past two seasons.

MADRID, May 19, 2008 (AFP) - Mexico's Javier Aguirre said Monday he turned down the possibility of coach his country's national side again to stay on as Atletico Madrid manager next season after leading the club to the Champions League qualifiers.

MADRID, May 13, 2008 (AFP) - Javier Aguirre should stay on as Atletico Madrid coach next season after he led the club to the Champions League qualifiers, the Spanish club's captain Maxi Rodriguez said Tuesday.

'I believe that Aguirre must continue,' the 27-year-old Argentine player told sports daily Marca.

MADRID, April 7, 2008 (AFP) - Atletico Madrid are on track to secure a spot in the Champions League next season after the Spanish club tightened their grip with a 6-3 win over Almeria over the weekend, the club's striker Simao Sabrosa said Monday.