Atletico Madrid haven't dropped their interest in Villarreal midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme.

Atletico sports chief Jesus Garcia Pitarch took responsibility this week for turning down the chance to sign Riquelme on-loan.

If Atletico fail to impress leading up to the winter market in January, Pitarch will seek to reopen negotiations with Villarreal for Riquelme, says AS.

The Argentina international trained with Manuel Pellegrini's first team squad yesterday for the first time since returning to Spain from a six-month loan spell at Boca Juniors.