“Everything will be made clear next week,” said Jackson Martínez on Monday when Portuguese daily A Bola asked the Colombia international about a reported 35 million euro deal – the amount stipulated in his release clause -- agreed between Porto and Atlético Madrid for the striker’s transfer to the Calderón.
In the same way as Luciano Vietto’s move to Atlético unfolded, Martínez is awaiting official confirmation of the deal after the Calderón beat off competition from AC Milan for the striker’s services when everything suggested a deal was in place for the 28-year-old to move to the Serie A giants.
Last Saturday AS reported that Atlético were close to securing the striker’s signature, and that Martínez was holding out on Milan because Atlético had met his release clause. On Sunday the Italian club appeared to admit defeat in their pursuit of Martínez on the understanding that a deal had been reached between Porto and the Liga side. If Martínez is signed, Diego Simeone will have the four-man attack he asked for – the Colombian, Vietto, Antoine Griezmann and Fernando Torres -- at his disposal next season.