Lisandro Martinez has reached a preliminary agreement with Atletico regarding personal contract terms in case of a potential transfer from Manchester United.
According to North Bank Insider, the Argentine defender is open to a move to Madrid, and the head coach of the Spanish club, Diego Simeone, is interested in signing him.
Negotiations between the parties reportedly began some time ago, with several meetings taking place around Manchester United's match against Atletico in the Champions League in Madrid. The clubs also had preliminary discussions about midfielder Pablo Barrientos, but contacts regarding Martinez's future have developed separately.
Personal terms agreed, but clubs have not yet reached a consensus
According to the publication, Martinez and Atletico have essentially agreed on personal terms, which could be activated if a transfer occurs in January or the summer of 2027.
However, negotiations between the clubs have not progressed to an advanced stage. Atletico still needs to agree with Manchester United on a potential compensation if they wish to acquire the defender before the expiry of his contract.
Martinez's current agreement with the English club is valid until the summer of 2027, with an option to extend for an additional 12 months. If Manchester United does not take up this option and fails to negotiate a new contract with the player, the Argentine could potentially leave as a free agent in the summer.
The report notes that the likelihood of an extension appears low. After the defeat to Atletico in October, Martinez publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the management of Manchester United, stating that he expected more from technical director Jason Wilcox. The player was later fined by the club.
Simeone keen on reuniting with the Argentine
According to North Bank Insider, Diego Simeone holds Martinez in high regard and may seek to expedite negotiations in January 2027 if the conditions of the deal are acceptable for Atletico.
In Madrid, the defender could join compatriots, including Cristian Romero and Giuliano Simeone.
Additional attention on the situation was drawn by Manchester United's match against Chelsea on 31 October, where Martinez received a red card and will now miss the next Premier League match against Aston Villa. However, according to the source, he should be available to play mid-week against Roma in the Champions League.
Thus, Atletico's interest in Martinez could translate into concrete actions in the upcoming transfer window. At present, only personal terms have been agreed, and the Argentine's future remains dependent on Manchester United's stance and the progress of negotiations between the clubs.
