Atletico Madrid Pursue Defender Jorge Salinas Amid United Interest
Atletico Madrid are stepping up their pursuit of Racing Santander defender Jorge Salinas as they try to get a deal over the line before Manchester United make their move.
United identified the 19-year-old left-back months ago and have tracked him closely ever since. Scouts followed him throughout Racing’s promotion campaign to LaLiga, then doubled down this summer with a constant presence at the European Under-19 Championship in Wales.
Salinas justified the attention. He played a central role in Spain’s run to the title, backing up the positive reports United had already built across the season and underlining why he is viewed as one of the standout young full-backs in Spanish football.
Now comes the decision point.
Salinas is available for his €16million (£13.7m / $18.6m) release clause, a figure that jumped sharply after Racing went up. Barcelona had previously explored the idea of signing him as a long-term project, but the doubling of his buyout clause cooled their interest.
Atletico, though, see something more immediate.
Atletico move with intent
The Madrid club are not treating Salinas as a slow-burn investment. They want him in their first-team squad and, after sanctioning Matteo Ruggeri’s move to Aston Villa, have accelerated talks over the last month to fill that left-back slot.
Sources indicate Atletico know United have already spoken to both Racing and the player’s camp. That awareness has triggered a sense of urgency at the Metropolitano. The fear is simple: if United decide to formally activate the clause, the battle becomes far harder to win.
So Atletico are pushing. Hard. The plan is to get ahead of any Premier League offer, lock in an agreement, and present Salinas with a clear pathway straight into top-level LaLiga football.
United weigh their options
For United, Salinas is part of a wider left-back puzzle rather than the single solution.
Lewis Hall of Newcastle remains their preferred choice. United are actively trying to make that transfer happen, but Newcastle have no intention of selling and have held a firm line so far. That resistance has forced United to keep alternative plans alive.
Salinas is one of those alternatives and has grown more attractive as the summer has gone on. His age, release clause and recent performances all tick important boxes, especially with the club trying to balance squad needs with financial discipline.
He is not alone on their shortlist. RB Leipzig’s David Raum is also under consideration, while Club Brugge’s Joaquin Seys has been watched, though Belgian sources maintain Seys will not be leaving this summer.
So the race around Salinas tightens.
Atletico are trying to move first, convinced he can step straight into their senior setup. United continue to deliberate, weighing whether to trigger the €16million clause or hold out for Hall.
One club wants clarity now. The other is still calculating. The next call from Old Trafford will decide whether Atletico’s early sprint is enough to win the chase.
