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Atletico Madrid announced the signing of Villarreal’s and Argentina’s forward Luciano Vietto on their club website on Tuesday.
The official figure for the transfer has not been announced by either of the clubs. The 21-year striker will pen a six-year contract at the Calderon for a reported sum of around 20 million euros to bring him to Atletico Madrid according to Spanish daily Marca.
The talented forward had been linked English giants Liverpool and Arsenal for a while according to The Express, but chose to stay in Spain with Atletico Madrid. The Argentine is expected to join the first team squad at ciudad deportiva de majadahonda, Atleti’s training ground after formalizing his deal on Wednesday.
"Atletico de Madrid and Villarreal have reached an agreement for the transfer of Luciano Vietto," a statement on the Atletico website said.
"It is expected that the transfer of the Argentinian forward will be formalised this Wednesday, that the striker trains with his new team-mates in the first session of the pre-season, and to subsequently sign his new contract, which will link him to our club for the next six seasons,” the statement continued.
Vietto-Simeone reunite
The striker was born in Balneaira, Córdoba (Argentina), and was enlisted in his local team Independiente de Balnearia at the age of seven. He later joined Estudiantes at the age of fifteen, but was released two years later. He was subsequently enlisted in the ranks of Racing Club, where he was given his senior level debut by the present Atletico Madrid’s coach Diego Simeone at the age of 17.
He was spotted for his talents by various European clubs, including Liverpool and Serie A champions Juventus according to The Mirror, after scoring 18 goals in 73 appearances for the Argentine club. He was signed by Villarreal for a rumoured sum of €5.5 million for a five-year deal in 2014.
The Calderon faithful remember the player well, after he scored the only goal of the game when the two sides had met in December, their only second home defeat of the campaign The striker scored 18 goals in his debut season in all competitions for the Yellow Submarines, thereby prompting Simeone to bring the prodigy to Madrid.
Direct Replacement For Mario Mandzukic
Atletico were in the market following the departure of Mario Mandzukic to Juventus. Simeone conceives the Argentine to fill the void left by the Croatian, and have also signed Porto's prolific Columbian striker Jackson Martinez, beating the likes AC Milan and Arsenal in the process for a reported sum of €35m
