Alessio Cerci to be registered for La Liga

Atletico Madrid’s squad for 2016-17 is complete - at least until January, barring a transfer ban - and although the club does not want to admit it, Alessio Cerci is apparently part of the team.

Atletico’s website makes no mention of the former Italian international but LaLiga’s official website lists Cerci with the squad number 17 on Atleti’s team page. With the window closed around Europe and Cerci’s only taker - Bologna - backing off after a medical revealed a bum knee, it seems Atleti have decided to give the winger a squad number and register him for domestic play even though he is out another three months.

AS have reported that with the European window closed, the best options for Cerci are China and India and there exists the possibility of a contract termination as the 29-year-old’s contract expires in June. However, the apparent decision to register Cerci with the league offices seems to take those options off the table.

(Where is Jorge Mendes when you need him?)

Anyway, don’t expect Cerci to step anywhere near the Atletico training facilities in Majadahonda or the Vicente Calderon bench if and when he does return to fitness. The two sides will revisit the situation in January, when Bologna could come back in for him or Atleti simply will let his contract expire.