Lopez agrees Atletico extension

Atletico Madrid have agreed a contract extension with highly-rated left back Antonio Lopez.

Lopez will be playing for Spain at this summer's World Cup finals and took advantage of a rest day for the Spain squad on Monday to sort out his club future.

The 24-year-old was already contracted to Atletico until 2006, but Los Rojiblancos were keen to extend his deal with the likes of Barcelona reported to be sniffing around the talented full back.

He has consented to an extension and will now put pen to paper on a six-year contract that will tie him to the Vicente Calderon until 2012.

The news will be a major boost for Atletico for whom Lopez was a stand-out performer last term.

Having found his feet in La Primera during a loan spell at Osasuna, he returned to the capital club last season and was a virtual ever-present.

Meanwhile, Atletico have unveiled Jesus Garcia Pitarch as their new director of sport and former Real Sociedad manager Jose Maria Amorrortu as their youth team coach.

Garcia Pitarch takes over from Toni Munoz who departed earlier in the month.