The surprising decision by Atlético de Madrid is shaking up the transfer market: the Spanish club has turned its back on signing João Gomes, the Wolverhampton midfielder, and has moved forward with an agreement for Morten Hjulmand from Sporting. This turnaround not only catches many off guard but also highlights the growing tensions behind the scenes, with Jorge Mendes at the center of the media storm.
Atlético de Madrid, managed by Diego Simeone, has reportedly decided to officially withdraw from the race for João Gomes, 25, after the Portuguese midfielder had been persistently linked to the Spanish capital following Wolves' relegation to the English second division. According to Spanish media, particularly the newspaper Marca, the strained relationship between the Atlético and super-agent Jorge Mendes was the basis for the breakdown of the deal. The pivot of this conflict appears to be the imminent transfer of Bernardo Silva to Real Madrid, which prompted Mendes to abruptly halt negotiations with Atlético in favor of securing the agreement with Madrid's rivals.
Despite the turnaround, Atlético's need to strengthen its midfield remains an absolute priority for Simeone. Without wasting time, the Spanish club has redirected its efforts and has reportedly reached an agreement with Morten Hjulmand, the Danish midfielder from Sporting, regarding the personal terms of the contract. Sporting, in turn, values the player at around 40 million euros, and negotiations between the two clubs continue to be intense and unrelenting.
This news has a direct impact not only on the clubs involved but also on the European transfer market itself. The choice of Hjulmand over João Gomes underscores the growing influence of agents in the decisions of major clubs, especially when there are conflicting interests involving various stars of world football. For Sporting, this represents an opportunity for significant financial gain, but also a potential sensitive loss to Rúben Amorim's squad, which would see one of its key players depart if the deal goes through.
Statements from sources close to the process reinforce the atmosphere of tension that has arisen. A source linked to the Spanish club revealed to Marca: “The relationship with Jorge Mendes is currently unsustainable. His priorities have changed overnight, and that is not compatible with Atlético's strategy.” On the Sporting side, the position is clear: “Hjulmand will only leave for the release clause or for a value very close to it,” stated a club official, highlighting the negotiating intransigence of the Lisbon side. For his part, Morten Hjulmand, in recent statements, expressed his flattery at the Spanish interest but assured: “I am fully focused on Sporting until I am called for another adventure.”
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What follows promises to be a real tug-of-war. Atlético will have to convince Sporting to release Hjulmand for a fee approaching 40 million euros, while other European giants watch closely the movements of Mendes, who remains a central figure in transfers this summer. For João Gomes, Atlético's refusal could translate into a new opportunity at another top club, but also a summer of uncertainties regarding his immediate future.
In an increasingly unpredictable market dominated by behind-the-scenes interests, Hjulmand's transfer to Madrid could be just the first of several moves in the European chess game. Should Sporting lose their midfielder, they will have to act quickly to fill the gap, while Atlético hopes the Dane will be the missing piece to relaunch Simeone's project towards reclaiming La Liga. One thing is certain: the saga is far from over and promises more explosive chapters in the coming days.
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