The Daily Rojiblanco: October 5, 2017

• Lauturo Martínez deal is imminent

Atlético Madrid are close to agreeing terms for Racing Club striker Lauturo Martínez. Such a move was talked about frequently this summer with speculation that the player would be immediately loaned back to Racing for the rest of the current season.

The report indicates that sporting director Andrea Berta made the trip to Argentina to seal the deal, while also scouting two additional Racing players—22-year-old forward Pablo Cuadra and 19-year-old midfielder Matías Zaracho.

The expected fee for Martínez is €12 million, and he’s expected to link up with Diego Simeone and the rest of the gang next summer.

• No away fans for Barcelona clash

According to Sky Sports, Barcelona have announced that no tickets will be provided for visiting fans when the league leaders visit the Wanda Metropolitano on Oct. 14.

Specifics in the report are vague—as are those in any other report I was able to find on the topic—but it seems that Atlético decreased the number of available tickets for away fans citing “logistical problems”, and Barcelona responded by refusing to take any tickets.

This marks the second match in a row that Barcelona supporters have been prevented from attending after their previous match against Las Palmas behind closed doors. That decision was made in light of the ongoing unrest surrounding the Catalan referendum on independence.

Given that context, I do wonder if lingering concerns or animosities between Barcelona (representing the capitol of Catalonia) and LaLiga (headquartered in Madrid) have played a role in either side of this decision as well—but that’s just speculation on my part.

• Enjoy this video of Profe Ortega putting Diego Costa through his paces

Just three more months of this, Diego.