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In a recent press conference Indian Super League champions ATK majority stakeholder Sanjiv Goenka had said the relationship with LaLiga giants Atletico Madrid had been due to non-investment of money by the Spanish side.
But while speaking to the clubs own media team, Atletico Madrid CEO Miguel Angel Gil spoke differently on why Atletico Madrid has ended its Indian club adventure.
Miguel Angel Gil said, “We are going to promote those franchises where Atlético has the majority of the capital that allows it to be able to develop the image of Atlético de Madrid through its Academy and the work in professional football.”
“This means putting an immediate stop to the franchise in India, since the majority holder of Atlético Kolkata does not allow the development of the image of Atlético de Madrid through our Academy in India.”
“India is an incredible country, with a great potential. Atlético has done a great job in Calcutta. We have managed to make Atlético de Madrid loved and recognised, but we need to develop it there, working, in addition to a professional team, with the children, through our Academy. And this is something that we cannot do with the majority shareholder of the franchise. But we want to continue being close to all the fans of Calcutta and of the whole of India,” Miguel Angel Gil added.
This sounds totally different than what has been said and projected by the Kolkata side of ATK.
It seems that Atletico Madrid was even willing to do more for the success and growth of ATK, even invest money but where not allowed to by the Indian owners.
ATK ( Amar Tomar Kolkata ) seems to have irritated their co-owner Atletico Madrid ,who still holds 25% of the club share of ATK , because of some recent press release from Mr Sanjeev Goenka who is the one of the major co-owners of ATK. Bengali news channel 24 Ghanta reported on 28th July that Atletico Madrid is terribly unhappy with the remarks of Mr Sanjeev Goenka that Atletico Madrid had not contributed a single penny to ATK over the last 3 years. It seems Atletico Madrid is now demanding a high selling value for the 25% shares of ATK that it holds and has even suggested the option of buying all the remaining 75 % shares from Mr Goenka and others. This has created a tension between atletico madrid and Mr Sanjeev Goenka and other shareholders of ATK.Atletico madrid is apparently considering the option of going to court or FIFA for justice related to the allegations of Mr Sanjeev Goenka.
Interestingly in the same press conference where Mr Sanjeev Goenka had publicly alleged Atletico Madrid , Mr Goenka had also told the press that Atletico Madrid had been taking care of all the pre-season trainings of ATK in Spain and have been providing all the coaching staff to ATK. Mr Goenka had not mentioned and acknowledged the cost of all these facilities that Atletico Madrid has been providing to ATK over the last 3 seasons.
Here goes the video of the bengali news channel 24 Ghanta that covered the above story –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh_oBKUaagk
The following sports website also covers this story –
https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/isl-2017-atletico-madrid-contemplating-taking-atk-to-court
Here goes the original article published in Spanish ( Use google translate )
http://www.marca.com/futbol/atletico/2017/07/28/597b80c0468aeb187b8b460b.html
In the above article Atletico Madrid has visibly displayed their displeasure at ATK management for not acknowledging the cost incurred by Atletico Madrid in arranging the pre-season camps of ATK at various foreign locations and the cost involved in the salaries of multiple foreign footballers and coaches whom Atletico Madrid has provided to ATK over the last 3 seasons.
The below listed article adds further on this issue and states _
“Atlético de Madrid are all set to sue Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) for illegal use of there colors which are trademarked and illegal acquisition of ATMs stake without paying them.”
Source: https://www.lntup.com/2017/07/28/atletico-de-madrid-prepared-to-take-legal-action-against-atk/