Players at the Madrid-based club feared for their futures when the coronavirus led to football's shutdown. But Partey has stepped in to put the squad's minds at rest.

The 20-year-old playmaker has endured a difficult start to life in Spain, having been recruited as the fourth-most expensive player in the world, but hopes that Atletico will help him progress his game.

The four-day Festival was staged as planned in front of 250,000 people, with additional hygiene measures in place due to the coronavirus pandemic, and concluded on March 13. 

Atletico Madrid are reportedly ready to double Thomas Partey's salary to £130,000 a week in order to fend off interest from Arsenal.

The midfielder is a top target for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side with the club prepared to bid up to £70million as well as offer him a huge salary increase.

The match has since received a huge amount of scrutiny after a huge crowd of 54,000 - with 3,000 fans arriving from Madrid - were allowed to attend the match, against the advice of the WHO.

The Ghanaian midfielder has been heavily linked with a summer move to the Emirates and has a £43million release clause in his current deal - allowing the Gunners to snap him up on the cheap.

Diego Simeone's side prevailed at Anfield on March 11 to book their place in the Champions League quarter-finals but it came against a backdrop of sporting uncertainty because of Covid-19.

Manchester City and Manchester United have been given a boost in their pursuit of Saul Niguez, as Barcelona have decided not to sign the defensive midfielder, according to Mundo Deportivo.

Thomas Partey's representatives have confirmed that there have been 'no conversations' between the midfielder and Arsenal, after reports linking him to the Gunners. 

The pair fell out at Stamford Bridge which resulted in the now Atletico Madrid forward being tossed out of the club. Costa went AWOL just months after Chelsea won the league title in 2017.

The Uruguayan's contract at PSG is up this summer and he is being heavily linked with a move away from Paris, with Atletico the most likely destination.

Mikel Arteta had identified Partey as a transfer target earlier in the season, with the Gunners boss hoping to convince the board to strike a deal for the 26-year-old when football returns to normality.

When James Rodriguez slammed home his sixth goal for Colombia at the 2014 World Cup, it was widely agreed that he had the potential to reach the very top. So where did it all go so wrong?

Lucas Vazquez has revealed his love of the Premier League, hinting that curiosity could get the better of him and see him leave Real Madrid for England, as Chelsea keep an eye on the winger.

Darmian spent four years at United before joining Parma last summer, but saw Rashford make his first-team debut in his first year at the club before France midfielder Pogba joined a year later.

Premier League players might be interviewed at half-time and cameras could placed in dressing rooms as part of the league's plans to revamp broadcasts in Project Restart.

The Manchester City forward, who would become Puma's highest-paid footballer should the deal go through, is also being pursued by rivals Adidas, New Balance and Under Armour.

Jesse Lingard is at a crossroads in his career. He is out of favour at his boyhood club, Manchester United. But these players show that leaving Old Trafford might not be the best option...

The Premier League may hold a seven-week 'festival of football' if the season resumes, however it must start by June 19 if it is to be completed, according to The Sun. 

In Saturday's Daily Mail, chief sports writer Martin Samuel considered the growing conflict between top and bottom over restarting the season. Now he responds to reader comments.

Crystal Palace are confident that Roy Hodgson will not be barred from managing on safety grounds amid the coronavirus crisis when the Premier League resumes.

West Bromwich Albion midfielder Jake Livermore recalls how he took the young left back under his wing when he arrived in Yorkshire as a quiet teenager from Scotland.

Premier League clubs will hold urgent talks with their players this week amid major concerns from footballers over proposals to restart the season. 

Lifting the Premier League trophy was a regular occurrence during the striker's six years at Old Trafford but United have gone seven years and counting since last being champions of England.

Steve Parish has defended attempts to get the season back up and running amid the coronavirus pandemic, stressing not doing so would be a major financial blow to taxpayers and the football community.

If the sport is to return to complete the Premier League and EFL seasons then all matches will have to be played behind closed doors to maintain social distancing measures.

SAMI MOKBEL: Wembley is re-emerging as a site to host Premier League games as part of Project Restart. Plans to play out the remaining 92 fixtures at neutral venues were discussed last Friday.

There is so much uncertainty around the Premier League at the moment that not only do we not know if it will restart, we also don't even know how many teams will be in it for next season.

Sportsmail revealed on Sunday the Premier League want all 20 clubs to commit to doing everything they can to resume in order to prevent financial collapse.

The manager was sacked in November and was paid the same fee in compensation, but part of the agreement means any club wishing to employ him within six months has to repay Spurs that amount.

Liverpool lead second-place Manchester City by 25 points, and Hugo Lloris insists 'everyone' within the game wants to see the 2019-20 campaign reach its natural conclusion on the pitch. 

Life is already beginning to return to the status quo in South Korea, with the coronavirus outbreak now seemingly under control and new cases in single digits following a February peak.

Some Premier League games are set to be shown on YouTube for FREE when the season restarts following the coronavirus lockdown.

While Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side are currently in fifth - potentially good enough for the Champions League if Man City are banned - the Blades are just two points behind them.

Sky and BT Sport are anticipated to oppose any proposals to scrap relegation from the Premier League this season. They want the jeopardy of the drop zone.

EFL chairman Rick Parry has pleaded for a rescue package from the Premier League with clubs financially crippled by the coronavirus crisis. He also branded parachute payments 'evil'.

The fate of Project Restart hangs in the balance ahead of Monday's crucial vote as top flight chiefs remain in talks with Government figures on a possible relaunch of the campaign.

Premier League clubs could be hit with a financial crisis similar to those faced by airlines across the world if football doesn't return by August, Crystal Palace chief Steve Parish has claimed.

Aguero joined City in 2011 and became the highest scoring overseas player in Premier League history in January after eclipsing Thierry Henry's record of 175 goals.

The Premier League are encouraging clubs to unite in support of Project Restart to ensure the 2019-20 season reaches its natural conclusion on the pitch.

A number of United's first-team contingent left the UK following the coronavirus outbreak in March in a bid to be with their loved ones while continuing training in warmer climates.

The defender has been training at home since March with the nation lockdown down during the coronavirus outbreak, and now many teams are preparing to return to training with their clubs.

Arsenal have already welcomed players back to their training ground for individual training and the rest of the top flight will be ordering stars to social distance when they return to training.

EXCLUSIVE BY SAMI MOKBEL: Provided the Government relaxes lockdown rules on Sunday, some clubs were due to return next Monday to commence small group training.

Both Premier League clubs have watched 17-year-old KV Mechelen midfielder in this season. Vranckx caught the eye when he scored the first and set up the second in a 2-0 win over Anderlecht. 

Premier League clubs are facing tough negotiations with commercial sponsors over the coming weeks should the season finish behind closed doors.

Smith, who has been in charge since 2018 and led Villa back to the top flight, has warned his squad may have to play the rest of the season without two players due to a medical issue and a high-risk family member.

There has been resistance, especially from teams fighting against relegation, to completing the 92 outstanding fixtures away from home stadiums. But Bevan says clubs need to agree to the plans.

The Red Devils have not won the Premier League since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. City have won three league titles in that time as Liverpool edge closer to winning their first in 30 years.