Matias Kranevitter signs 5-year deal with Atletico Madrid from River Plate

Atletico Madrid have confirmed the signing of River Plate midfielder Matias Kranevitter.

The 22-year-old has passed his medical and put pen to paper on a five-year contract with Atletico, although he will not link up with the Primera Division club until after playing in the FIFA Club World Cup with Copa Libertadores champions River in December.

Kranevitter, an Argentina Under-20 international, said on his new club’s website: “I’m grateful to Atletico Madrid for this opportunity that they’ve given me.

“I’m really looking forward to being able to play in an event as important as the Club World Cup with River Plate.

“It was very nice to win the Libertadores for River after an absence of 19 years and I’m very grateful to have the opportunity to play in such a competition.

“Once the tournament is over I will join up with Atletico and will give everything from the first moment and try to adapt as quickly as possible to the methods of work and to Spanish football. I’m very happy with the agreement.”