Filipe Luis asks Atlético to lower buy-out clause

Filipe Luis has made up his mind. He will not stay on at Atlético de Madrid, the club where he has spent the last four seasons. The full-back has already turned down the new deal that Atleti offered him several weeks ago.

The Atleti defender is set to continue his career at Chelsea, the club he has decided to join, as soon as the Londoners can reach a deal with Atlético to sign him. The La Liga champions insist that nobody is leaving the club without first paying their buy-out clause.

Filipe's buy-out clause stands at ¤24m, an amount that the London club appears unwilling to pay. That gave rise last week to the Brazilian full-back asking Atlético to lower his buy-out clause to ease his departure from the club. That way he could pack his bags for London, where he will link up with Diego Costa and Tiago, two of his best friends in the Atlético dressing room, and Courtois, who is returning to Stamford Bridge following a lengthy loan spell at the Calderón.

Filipe's request was not well-received by the Atlético board, who are intent on cashing in on the player and selling him for the full ¤24m stipulated in his buy-out clause. The relationship between club and player has soured of late.