Atletico Madrid rival Barcelona for Solari

Atletico Madrid have joined the race for Real Madrid midfielder Santiago Solari.

The Argentine will not be offered new terms by Real and can leave the Santiago Bernabeu on a Bosman at the end of this season.

Solari has already held talks with Barcelona, but his £2 million-a-year personal demands are proving too steep for president Joan Laporta's new wage structure.

Atletico are in a similar position, but sports director Toni Munoz knows Solari is settled in Madrid and hopes he will lower his asking price to remain in the city and sign with Real's big rivals for next season.