Atletico Madrid has already set its sights on the future of Spanish football: the young left back Jorge Salinas, born in 2007, is at the center of the Colchonero club's attention. Salinas, who made his first-team debut with Racing Santander in 2024 in the Copa del Rey, consolidated his position in the 2025-26 season, almost becoming a starter in 33 Segunda matches with seven assists and making a decisive contribution to Racing's promotion to the Primera. His versatility - left wing at club, central in national youth teams - and his aggressiveness in duels have made him one of the most promising European talents.
The athletes club has already started initial contacts to evaluate the feasibility of a possible transfer. Salinas is currently under the management of Jorge Mendes and his buyout clause is set at 16 million euros, a figure that could increase significantly with the imminent renewal of his contract. Atletico, which has a long history of collaboration with Gestifute, appears to have taken the initiative later than other Italian teams such as Inter and Juventus, who had shown interest in the previous days.
Salinas has also demonstrated his ability to compete internationally, winning the 2026 European Under-19 Championship in Wales with the Spanish national team. His growth has been followed by numerous observers, and his reputation as "one of the best performers in international football at youth level" is now consolidated. Atletico, who have already started to explore the possibility of a purchase, are ready to take the necessary steps to bring the Cantabrian talent into their team before the end of the summer season.
Currently, the negotiation is still in the preliminary phase. Atletico Madrid have expressed long-term interest in Salinas, but the final assessment will depend on negotiations with Racing Santander and the young player's consent. If the deal comes to fruition, Salinas could become one of the key players in Colchonero's defense in the coming years, contributing to the club's continued success under the guidance of Diego Pablo Simeone.