Matteo Moretto: Atlético to sign Samuel Lino this summer

According to a tweet from journalist Matteo Moretto, Atlético Madrid on Sunday reached an agreement with Portuguese club Gil Vicente over winger Samuel Lino. The 22-year-old, who joined his current club in 2019, will arrive at Atlético next summer.

Lino has led the way as Gil Vicente are on pace to equal its best-ever season in Portugal’s top flight. Primarily operating as a left-winger, the right-footed Brazilian has scored six goals and assisted three more in 19 games for the fifth-place Galos. He’s also among the most-fouled players in the league and a prolific dribbler.

Lino’s high-quality performances have drawn speculation that he’s ticketed for a big move abroad — and Atleti seem to have identified him as a high-value signing for 2022/23, likely at a low cost compared to other in-demand attackers like Luis Díaz. The former Porto winger is on his way to Liverpool in a deal that could net his former club as much as €60 million.

Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Atlético’s plan for Lino is not immediately clear (assuming the transfer is completed). Yannick Carrasco, who is entrenched as one of Diego Simeone’s most important players, is probably Lino’s top competition for minutes on the left side with Atleti looking likely to return to a base 4-4-2 formation.

The other flank is a more-interesting proposition, with Ángel Correa and Marcos Llorente the closest players to “natural” right-sided attackers. Lino’s change of pace and ability to play on both sides could see him find a home there if Simeone intends to keep him for next season — and, again, if the deal goes through as reported.