Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has said he is not aware of any offers for reported Real Madrid and Barcelona target Theo Hernandez, but added that no club can stop a player from leaving if they make up their minds to go.
Theo, 19, has impressed hugely on loan at Alaves from Atletico this season, with Manchester City and Manchester United also among the teams who have been linked with a move for the France under-age international.
Before April's derbi between Atletico and Madrid, Marca claimed on its cover that the Santiago Bernabeu outfit planned to pay the left-back's €24 million release clause and take him across the Spanish capital in the summer -- breaking an unwritten gentleman's agreement which prevents such transfers between the neighbouring clubs.
More recently, Barca have been reported to be interested in hijacking that deal to bring the youngster to the Camp Nou as an eventual successor to Jordi Alba.
With Theo's future again a major talking point as Atletico head to the Santiago Bernabeu for Tuesday's Champions League semifinal first leg, Cerezo told El Larguero that no club had enquired about a transfer.
"Theo is an Atletico Madrid player and until now, as far as I know, nobody has asked us about him," Cerezo said. "We cannot talk about hypothetical things. There is a code, with all clubs. When we want a player, we talk to the club first, and then with the player. We have no intention to sell any player, but if another club comes with an offer which could be interesting to a player, they should talk to us."
Cerezo did, however, concede that clubs can be powerless to keep players against their wishes.
"Things happen as they have to happen," he said. "I always say that players will play where they want to play. If a player is ready to be transferred, then they can look for whatever club they want. Theo is an Atletico Madrid player. If he is not tomorrow then we will find out why. But leave him and Real Madrid alone."
Monday saw Theo's brother Lucas end speculation over possible summer moves of his own to City or Barcelona by extending his contract with Atletico until 2022, with the new deal reportedly including a €55m release clause.
Lucas said he had "not thought twice" about extending his stay with the club, and his next aim is to secure a regular starting place in Diego Simeone's side.
"To renew my contract with his club is everything," Lucas is quoted as saying by Marca. "Since I was small I am fighting for this. I got my first senior contract two years ago and to extend it now makes me proud. Once they called me about this I did not think twice about it. At this moment I want to go for more, to win a place in the starting XI, and I will battle until I do that. I have signed the new deal as I want to be a great at this club."
Lucas, who has been playing at left-back this season, could be in line to start at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday as Atletico's specialist right-backs Juanfran Torres and Sime Vrsaljko are currently injured.