La Liga side Atlético Madrid filed a request with the Alcorcón City Council to build a football academy, according to the EFE. The Alcorcón City Council announced that the club contacted Alcorcón Mayor David Pérez claiming that the city will have "the opportunity to establish multilateral relationships with many other int'l cities." Pérez said that the club's decision represents "historic news" for the city, as it "will benefit thousands of kids in Alcorcón" (EFE, 2/29). In Barcelona, Javier G. Gómara reported the agreement between Atlético and Ligue 2 side Lens "in which the Madrid club would help the French side economically," has been paralyzed, according to Lens President Gervais Martel. Martel, however, "hopes that they will be able to resume talks to reach an agreement in the future." Although it was reported that Atlético wanted to buy the club, sources said that it was not interested in acquiring Lens because, "among other things, UEFA does not allow one owner of two organizations that could compete in the same tournament." Martel said that after the Madrid club was sanctioned by FIFA, talks were suspended (MUNDO DEPORTIVO, 2/29).
