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.