Sevilla's Alves and Villarreal's Riquelme stay put

MADRID, Sept 1 (Reuters) Sevilla right-back Daniel Alves and Villarreal playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme will remain with their respective clubs after failing to agree moves before the transfer deadline closed night.

The Brazil international Alves had been close to a switch to Chelsea and latterly Real Madrid, after saying he wanted to move on.

He missed the club's last two matches, leading to speculation that he was trying to force an exit, but played for Sevilla in the 3-1 defeat to AC Milan in the European Super Cup in Monaco yesterday.

''Alves continues to complete his contract and the fans know they have to get behind him as they would any other Sevilla player,'' president Jose Maria del Nido was quoted as saying on the club's Web site www.sevillafc.es.

Their Uruguayan striker Ernesto Chevanton turned down a couple of offers to move and will stay at the club but without an official squad place, to free up a non-European Union slot for new arrival, Ivory Coast striker Arouna Kone.

Argentina's Riquelme was reportedly near to a deal with free-spending Atletico Madrid, but will have to return to Villarreal and make his peace.

The talented attacking midfielder spent the final six months of last season on loan at Boca Juniors having fallen out with coach Manuel Pellegrini. He still has two years left on his contract.

Atletico did move, however, for Barcelona reject Thiago Motta.

The Brazilain midfielder agreed a one-year deal with Atletico for a fee of one million euros, Barca said.

Motta's arrival saw Atletico's French midfielder Peter Luccin move to Real Zaragoza.

Elsewhere, Real Betis agreed a deal for Villarreal forward Jose Mari and Racing Santander landed Congolese striker Mohamed Tichte from Anderlecht and US youth international midfielder Danny Szetela from Columbus Crew.

Real Madrid released youth-team midfielders Javi Garcia to Osasuna and Esteban Granero and Ruben de la Red to Getafe, Granero on loan.

Recreativo Huelva signed Turkey striker Ersen Martin from Trabzonspor and made striker Javi Guerrero's loan move a permanent one.

REUTERS TB RK0952