Atletico Madrid in negotiations with La Liga club to sign 19-year-old Barcelona target – report | OneFootball

The relationship between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid has got very frosty over the course of the summer due to the transfer saga involving Julian Alvarez.

The Catalan club have been keen on signing the Argentine striker this summer, while Atletico have simply refused even to open negotiations for the same.

Now, it looks like the two Spanish clubs could find themselves embroiled in another transfer saga for Racing Santander defender Jorge Salinas.

Barça have been tracking the 19-year-old since the start of the summer, but the deal has not progressed due to Racing insisting on his €16 million release clause.

Now, according to journalist Matteo Moretto on MARCA, Atletico Madrid are making a concrete move to sign the teenager this summer.

Atletico open negotiations with Racing

Jorge Salinas has been a target for Barcelona. (Picture credit: Instagram/@jorgesaliiinas)

Atletico Madrid and Racing Santander are in negotiations today over a potential transfer for Salinas.

The two clubs are in direct contact as they attempt to find an agreement for the young talent.

However, Atletico reportedly do not intend to trigger the player’s release clause. Instead, they are negotiating with Racing in an effort to settle on a different transfer fee.

This is pretty much what Barça have also been doing all summer, but Los Verdiblancos have repeatedly insisted that only the release clause would see him leave this summer.

They have no reason to make an exception just for Atletico.

Barcelona have been tracking Salinas

Barcelona’s strategy with emerging talents has increasingly depended on identifying players before their valuations explode.

Salinas, at just 19, would fit that type of recruitment far more naturally than an expensive established signing.

The Spanish centre-back-cum-left-back had an excellent Under-19 European Championship with La Roja alongside the likes of Xavi Espart.

Barça are keen on making defensive reinforcements for Hansi Flick, and signing someone like Salinas would make a lot of sense.

Crucial week could decide Salinas’ future

What’s in store for Jorge Salinas’ future? (Picture credit: Instagram/@jorgesaliiinas)

While Barça are right in their stance not to pay the release clause for a relatively unproven player, Racing could relax their stance in this final week of the transfer window.

Should they open their doors to negotiating for the teenager, Barça should be right there to try to get this deal done.

Barça already look set to lose out on one transfer battle to Atletico this summer window with Alvarez.

The last thing they will want is to see Los Colchoneros beat them to Salinas’ signature, and it remains to be seen what transpires in this final week.