Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has blasted coach Javier Aguirre's decision to loan Portugal international Maniche to Internazionale in the January transfer window.

Maniche, 30, had found himself surplus to requirements under Aguirre, with Atletico's squad boasting no less than eight first-team midfielders, including Raul Garcia, Maxi Rodriguez, Thiago Motta, Cleber Santana, Simao, Luis Garcia, Jose Antonio Reyes, Juan Valera and Jose Manual Jurado.

"It was a mistake to get rid of him," Cerezo told AS. "He had a dispute with the coach, who told us that he no longer wanted him and that it was absurd to leave him on the bench.

"We didn't strengthen that position because we couldn't find anyone suitable on the market."

The comments could be construed as thinly-veiled criticism of Aguirre, who has spent freely since arriving at Atleti in 2006 but has thus failed to break the dominance of La Liga by Real Madrid and Barcelona or even cement a top-four place.

The Rojiblancos currently lie fourth in Spain's top flight but a poor recent run has seen the gap to fifth closed by Racing Santander, who are behind on goal difference, with Sevilla just two points shy in sixth.

Reda Maher / Eurosport