The Portugal international has signed for Atletico on a five-year deal following his departure from Sporting <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Gelson Martins has agreed a five-year deal at Atletico Madrid, arriving at the Wanda Metropolitano on a free transfer after opting to walk away from crisis club Sporting CP.<\/p>\n
The Portugal international was one of nine players to rescind their contracts after Sporting’s\u00a0turbulent end to the 2017-18 season, which descended into chaos after\u00a0the club’s then president Bruno de Carvalho publicly criticised players on social media following a Europa League defeat to Atletico.<\/p>\n
In response, a\u00a0group of radical supporters\u00a0interrupted training, smashed up the changing rooms and attacked players, which led to the likes of Gelson\u00a0tearing up his deal, which had four years left to run.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Earlier this week, Sporting insisted the club would not give up hope of keeping hold of Gelson, whom new president Jose de Sousa Cintra claimed was being “badly advised”.<\/p>\n
The 23-year-old winger played\u00a0140 games for Sporting and has 19 international caps, including a substitute appearance in Portugal’s 1-0 win over Morocco at the World Cup in Russia.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“Our club is incorporating a pacey right winger who has also been deployed as a second striker and even at right-back,” read an Atletico statement.<\/p>\n
“His speed and fine dribbling skills make him a valued addition to our team and a threat to the opposition’s defenders.”<\/p>\n
The Atletico squad are currently in Singapore, preparing for International Champions Cup matches against Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain on Thursday and Monday.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n