Atletico Madrid striker Mario Mandzukic has revealed he rejected a potential move to the English Premier League in favour of joining the La Liga champions.
The Croatia international, who joined Atletico from Bayern Munich in a deal worth €15 million in the summer, was heavily linked with Premier League trio Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool.
Mandzukic rejected more lucrative offers to link up with the ingenious Diego Simeone at the Estadio Vicente Calderon, and understandably so.
Under Simeone, Atletico pulled off the impossible, holding off both Barcelona and Real Madrid to win La Liga, while also reaching the UEFA Champions League final only to lose to their bitter inner-city rivals.
It was a magnificent campaign for Atleti, which ultimately paved the way for Diego Costa and Filipe Luis to join Premier League giants Chelsea.
“I had better offers than from Atletico,” Mandzukic said.
“There were calls from the UK that interested me, but I believe that their style of football is simply not my way. There were also interest from Italy and some concrete offers from Russia.
“I’m very pleased with everything. I couldn’t choose a better path after leaving Bayern Munich. The fans here accepted me immediately.
“Atletico was the best possible decision for me at this stage of my career.”
The former Dinamo Zagreb star added: “Simeone was the key to me coming to Atletico.
“His style and passion, with so much success, they are the things that inspire me. I love guys like him, he’s a real fighter, direct and transparent who is not fake and always says what he really thinks.”
Mandzukic has tallied five goals in 11 appearances in all competitions for Atleti this season.
McCarthy does not regret Liverpool snub
Queens Park Rangers goalkeeper Alex McCarthy has revealed he does not regret choosing the Super Hoops over Liverpool.
McCarthy, 24, chose to join QPR over Liverpool in the summer, and made his club debut in the 3-2 defeat to the Reds last week.
The 24-year-old is prepared for Monday’s crucial league fixture against Aston Villa at Loftus Road, but Harry Redknapp may choose to replace him with Rob Green, who has been declared fit after recovering from illness.
“I don’t regret the decision I have made up to now,” said McCarthy.
“Harry was a big part of me coming here. The things he said to me swayed my decision.
“I spoke to both managers and everything the gaffer here said to me I liked, and that’s why I’m here now.
“Coming to a new club you want to get your first game under your belt and I’m over the moon to get that first game out of the way.
“The main focus for me now is to keep training hard week in, week out and give the manager a decision to make.”
Now then, did McCarthy make the right decision in snubbing Liverpool for Queens Park Rangers?
In short, yes. The former Reading shot-stopper will, eventually, replace Green as the No. 1 goalkeeper for QPR.
The only problem is that it might not be in 2014/15, and if he does not replace Green this term, he may become the No. 1 for a club in the Championship, which is exactly where he was last season.
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