Atletico Madrid moved today to quash speculation that they are set to sign Stefan Effenberg after sports daily Marcapublished photos of the German midfielder arriving at the capital's Baraja airport.
Effenberg, whose contract with Bayern Munich runs out in the summer, revealed in December that Atletico were interested in signing him and Marcasaid he was due to reopen talks with the club this weekend.
A statement released by Atletico on their website and quoting sporting director Paulo Futre stated categorically, however, that the club had decided against signing Effenberg back in December.
"Futre has discarded the option of signing the German player Stefan Effenberg, after the club decided it was not viable," the statement said.
Futre added in the statement: "We decided against the signing six weeks ago. It's completely ruled out.
"The player is in Madrid as a guest of someone else at the club - not by the club's sporting department, who, I repeat, will not support his signing."