Simeone jokes players who have sex four times a month 'can't play in my team'

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has joked that players having sex just four times a month cannot feature in his teams.

The 53-year-old Argentinian has been in charge of Atletico Madrid since 2011, and has ensured at least a third placed finish in LaLiga this season, with one game to play.

In an interview with Cadena COPE, Simeone discussed some of the pressing issues for Atletico, including the return of Joao Felix from Chelsea, and his own future at the club.

But there was also time for personal matters in the extensive chat, in which Simeone revealed the bizarre claim, after the presenter cited a study that the average Spaniard has sex 56 times a year.

Simeone replied: 'How many? 56... 56 a year... How many are a month? Four a month? Four a month no...

'With four times a month you can't play in my team.'

This response caused uproarious laughter in the COPE studio.

When the interviewers pressed Simeone for a more realistic number, he replied: '15 a month? I'm not going to say... but we have a good average.'

Simeone secretly married his model wife Carla Pereyra in June 2019, and they have two daughters.

The Argentine also has three sons from his first marriage, who are all professional footballers.

Last year, Simone hit out at his first wife Carolina Baldini for 'breaking family code' by talking about their break-up on Argentinian TV, 12 years after the couple parted.

Simeone has pledged to see out the remaining year of his managerial contract at Atletico. He said: 'We have one more year on our contract and I'm focused on continuing to give my best.'

He added: 'At the moment the priority is not my contract, if we have to talk about it we will do it later when Miguel [Atletico CEO Miguel Ángel Gil] believes that it is the most appropriate time. The priority is another.'

Felix is set to return to the club after his loan spell at Chelsea, with incoming Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino declaring his services at Stamford Bridge unnecessary.

Atletico Madrid conclude their LaLiga season with a trip to Villareal on Sunday evening.