Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid have tabled an offer for €20 million-rated Barcelona target
Girona defender Arnau Martinez has been earning rave reviews for his performances in his debut La Liga campaign this season. And top clubs like Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have taken an interest in the 19-year-old right-back.
In fact, if a report from Mundo Deportivo is to be believed, Atletico Madrid have already held talks with Girona to sign Martinez in the summer and have presented an offer for the youngster already.
Atletico Madrid have Nahuel Molina as their only natural right-back in the squad currently. The Argentine international has not always performed consistently this season, which has compelled Diego Simeone to bank on Marcos Llorente as a makeshift right-back.
But the manager has admitted in the past that he would prefer to utilise Llorente’s services higher up the pitch, which has prompted the club to look for a new right-back.
Marseille’s Jonathan Clauss has been linked with a move to Atletico Madrid, but they have also identified young Martinez as an option to reinforce the right side of their defensive line.
The report goes on to state that Atletico Madrid have already initiated negotiations with Girona to sign the 19-year-old former La Masia trainee in the summer.
Girona sports director Quique Carcel had flown to the Spanish capital a few weeks ago to discuss the transfer with Los Colchoneros, who are understood to have presented an offer for the right-back, who has a release clause worth €20 million in his contract.
The report also states that Atletico have secured a first refusal on Martinez which means that Girona will have to inform them and give them a chance to match any higher offer that they receive for the right-back.
As such, Martinez’s exit from Estadi Montilivi looks certain in the summer. While Barcelona have an interest in their former academy ace, it seems like Atletico Madrid have taken the lead in the race for his signing as things stand.
Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid monitoring teenage striker with €40 million release clause – Romano
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Atletico Madrid are among the clubs monitoring the progress of UD Almeria striker Marciano Sanca.
The 19-year-old Guinea-Bissau forward joined Almeria from Portuguese outfit Leixoes in January last year, linking up with the club’s B team.
Marciano has made three league appearances Almeria’s reserve team and has not scored a goal yet. The teenager has been training with the first-team setup regularly and Romano claims that he is close to making his debut in La Liga.
While he might not have made a splash at the senior level yet, Marciano seems to be already gathering admirers with Atletico Madrid, Villarreal and Brighton & Hove Albion said to be tracking the youngster.
Los Rojiblancos are set to enter the market for a new centre-forward as Joao Felix is expected to be sold permanently while Alvaro Morata’s future is also not entirely certain.
So even though Diego Simeone has Memphis Depay, Angel Correa, and Morata at his disposal, Atletico Madrid will dive into the market for a new striker with there being links to Mateo Retegui of Boca Juniors, currently on loan at Tigre.
Now, Marciano has also emerged as a potential target or Atletico Madrid, although signing him will not be easy in the summer.
Even though the 19-year-old’s contract expires in 2024, he is bound by a release clause worth €40 million and Almeria intend to keep him at the club beyond this season.
So, the La Liga club might hold out for the entire release clause amount in order to stave off potential suitors like Atletico Madrid, who are not in a position to make such an investment on an unproven youngster.
