Atletico Madrid

Diego Simeone wants worldwide transfer deadline day

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 02 March 2018

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone calls for the world of football to have one transfer deadline day following the sales of Yannick Ferreira Carrasco and Nico Gaitan.

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has called for the world of football to have one transfer deadline day.

Yannick Ferreira Carrasco and Nico Gaitan both left Atletico earlier this week to link up with newly-promoted Chinese Super League club Dalian Yifang.

As a result, Atletico's first-team squad is down to 19 players for the remainder of the 2017-18 campaign.

Simeone has admitted that it is "uncomfortable" knowing that players can leave outside of the European transfer window, and the Argentine has called for one transfer deadline day.

"It's an uncomfortable time. It staying open until February 28 means there are two more months for a player's head to be turned. It would be better if we had one deadline day for everyone. It would mean players, clubs and coaches could all be a lot more relaxed," Simeone told reporters.

Atletico are five points off La Liga leaders Barcelona ahead of the top-of-the-table clash at Camp Nou on Sunday afternoon.