Atletico Madrid closing in on winger Simao

Sports daily AS claimed on Friday that Atletico have reached an agreement with Benfica to buy Simao for 19 million euros (26.23 million dollars).

 AS also claimed that Simao has now become a priority because negotiations with FC Porto to buy Ricardo Quaresma have broken down, due to Porto's high asking price.

 Simao, 26, played for Barcelona from 1999 to 2001 but failed to make much of an impression, partly due to his age.

 A year ago he almost signed for Valencia, but the "ches" baulked at his salary demands and instead signed Spain winger Joaquin Sanchez from Betis.

DPA