Simeone offered Atletico post

Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo wants Diego Simeone to be the club’s next coach.

Gregorio Manzano was relieved of his duties at the La Liga club on Thursday, but speculation linking Simeone with a return to Atletico has been building since the Argentine resigned from Racing Club in his homeland on Tuesday.

Cerezo, speaking in a press conference just hours after Manzano’s dismissal, revealed that the former River Plate and Catania coach has been offered the job and that a deal could be done in the next two days.

“He is the one we all want here. He would love to come,” Cerezo said.

“We have sent him an offer and now we have to negotiate. Between this Thursday and Friday we will have our answer.”

According to Ole, Simeone is expected to sign a contract by the end of Thursday, with an initial deal to take him to the end of the 2011/12 season.

Simeone made 134 appearances for Atletico over two spells as a player, helping the club win the La Liga and Copa del Rey double in the 1995/96 campaign.

“I think that it is a great choice for him, above all because of the hope and love for him here which makes him want to come,” Cerezo said.

Simeone took Racing to second in the 2011 Argentine Primera Division Apertura, before walking out due to a dispute with president-elect Gaston Cogorno and the club’s current administration.