Atletico Madrid are pushing to get a deal done for Jorge Salinas and are trying to move ahead of Manchester United in the process. The 19-year-old Racing Santander defender is available for his €16million (£13.7m / $18.6m) release clause, and United are still deciding whether to make a firm move.
Atletico's push and United's pause
TEAMtalk reported that Atletico are trying to beat increasing interest from United, while United still see Salinas as one of several left-back options. That delay matters because the player has already been on their radar. Scouts watched him during Spain's three-week run at the European Under-19 Championship in Wales.
The attraction is easy to see. Atletico finished second in the 2026 La Liga season, while United finished third in the 2025 Premier League season. Both clubs have enough pulling power to make Salinas a real target, but Atletico's willingness to move first gives them the edge in the race right now.
Racing Santander's promotion changes the price
Racing Santander's promotion to LaLiga has increased Salinas' buyout fee significantly. That is the part of the story that has made him a sharper target over the past month, especially after Atletico allowed Matteo Ruggeri to leave for Aston Villa.
United also have Lewis Hall, David Raum and Joaquin Seys on their left-back shortlist, so Salinas is not the only name on their board. Even so, the €16million clause keeps him in the picture, and Atletico's push suggests they want this one settled before the market moves again.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →
