Handshake edges Hjulmand closer to Sporting exit: inside story | OneFootball

Morten Hjulmand has taken an important step toward leaving Sporting. The Lions’ captain has reached a verbal agreement with Atlético Madrid and is now waiting for the Colchoneros to reach an understanding with Sporting’s board so the transfer can be completed.

According to the newspaper A Bola, the agreement between the Denmark international and the Spanish club was reached last Tuesday, at around 4:00 p.m., through a handshake between agent Ivan Marko Benes and Atlético Madrid sporting director Mateu Alemany. The contract is expected to run for five seasons, with an option for one more.

The same source also explains that Hjulmand made a point of keeping Sporting permanently informed about the progress of the talks. The 27-year-old midfielder, who remains the Lions’ captain, wanted to avoid any conflict with the club, similar to what recently happened with Viktor Gyokeres, and informed the board about the clubs interested in his services.

The groundwork for a possible departure had in fact been laid in the summer of 2025, when Juventus showed interest in the midfielder. At that time, Sporting and the player agreed that an offer between €40 million and €50 million could open the door to a transfer, even though his release clause is set at €80 million.

Now comes the decisive phase of negotiations between the two clubs. Atlético Madrid believe it is possible to complete the deal for around €45 million, including add-ons, while Sporting will try to push the final amount closer to €60 million, taking advantage of Diego Simeone’s strong desire to have Hjulmand in the squad next season.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.