Atlético Madrid will provide 35% of the share capital required to buy Ligue 2 club Lens, after Lens President Gervais Martel and Luxembourg business society Solferino Major Shareholder Ignacio Aguillo confirmed that a bid collaborating with the Spanish club "had been accepted in Paris," according to MARCA. The bid was "made by Luxembourg business society Solferino." Aguillo, an Atlético board member, said, "We hope to provide the same sporting competence that Atlético offers, but we will have a respect for the identity of Lens itself. We are going to base ourselves on the current status within the club, including using the current president" (MARCA, 5/24). FOOTBALL ESPANA reported Solferino paid around €6M ($6.7M) for its stake in the club. Aguillo confirmed that if Lens qualifies for European competition, Atlético will "divest" itself of its interest to "avoid a conflict" (FOOTBALL ESPANA, 5/24). LE FIGARO's David Reyrat reported at a press conference at Lens HQ on Monday Aguillo said, "Promotion to Ligue 1 is a clear goal. For this we'll need the means to recruit. You cannot conquer Ligue 1 without the financial means." He also reassured the 180 employees of the club. Aguillo: "We don't see a personnel reduction. That's not how we will save money. And we cannot claim to run the club from London or Madrid. So we will rely on local, passionate and motivated employees." The conference, however, "did not lift the veil on the real intentions of the new owner," as some observers "fear the northern club will become a mere subsidiary of Atlético Madrid, attracted by the quality of its recruits" (LE FIGARO, 5/23).