Atletico Madrid are close to announcing the loan of Luciano Vietto to Sevilla for one season. Negotiations between the clubs are advanced and the deal is ready to be announced in the coming hours, or perhaps it will be days, but either way the forward will be heading south.

Sport EN

Sevilla beat Barcelona in the race to sign him and he will augment their fantastic attack. The player, who wanted strongly to be play with his idol and friend Lionel Messi, as the first reserve behind the MSN, in the end could not make good on that desire.

Vietto was convinced by something at Sevilla that Barcelona could not assure him of - minutes on the pitch. The Andalusians have promised him he will have a place in the team, although that's something it's hard to be sure of. However it was enough to persuade the 22-year-old. His agent Jorge Cyterszpiler is set to meet with Sevilla directors to finalise the deal.

Atletico, for their part, prefer to loan him to Sevilla for many reasons. Diego Simeone agreed at the end of last season that he could leave. But the Rojiblancos do not want to reinforce a rival in the battle for titles, like Barcelona are. Atletico also don't want to sell Vietto for less than the 20 million euros they paid Villarreal for the striker. And finally because Vietto has a lot of potential and a loan may do him good - he could return a top class forward.