Atletico Madrid are trying to move ahead of Manchester United in the race for Jorge Salinas, with the 19-year-old Racing Santander left-back now attracting serious interest because of his €16million release clause.
That fee has become a bigger talking point after Racing Santander secured promotion to LaLiga, which doubled the buyout clause for the Spanish defender. United had already been watching Salinas, but Atletico’s recent acceleration has added urgency to the picture.
Why Atletico Madrid have moved quickly
The timing matters here. Over the last month, Atletico Madrid stepped up talks for Salinas after allowing Matteo Ruggeri to leave for Aston Villa, and that has left them looking for another option on the left side of defence. Salinas fits the profile they want: young, Spanish, and already tested in senior football with Racing Santander.
For United, the interest is part of a wider search for left-back options. They continue to assess the market because Newcastle are not willing to sell Lewis Hall, which has forced them to consider alternatives. Salinas has emerged as one of those names after first appearing on United’s radar in July.
United still weighing up a firm move
Manchester United have not yet committed to a bid, but they are now considering whether to make a firm move for the Racing Santander defender. That decision will likely depend on how strongly they want to act before Atletico close the gap.
Salinas also arrives with a growing reputation after representing Spain at the European Under-19 Championship in Wales during June and July. For a player of his age, that kind of international exposure only adds to the appeal.
The key point is simple: Atletico Madrid are pushing hard, United are still assessing, and the release clause means this could move quickly if either club decides to act. For Racing Santander and Salinas, the next step may come sooner rather than later.
