River Plate midfielder, Matías Kranevitter is currently in Rome completing some paperwork relating to his Italian passport before he is due in Madrid on Thursday to sign a five-year-deal with Diego Simone’s Atlético. The transfer fee is reported to be $8 million for around 60% ownership of the 22-year-old and they only stumbling block now is that Atléti have requested Kranevitter make the switch immediately rather than at the end of the year.

There are a number of players that have shone in River Plate’s recent revival but none more so than 22-year-old Matías Kranevitter. The number five was perhaps the standout player as River lifted their third Copa Libertadores and his performances have not gone unnoticed by Gerardo Martino with Kranevitter included in the latest Argentina squad.

The discussions between River and Atlético Madrid have been ongoing for weeks with Diego Simone a keen admirer and someone with a certain amount of inside knowledge at the Monumental given he is a former manager and his son, Giovani has been a teammate of Kranevitter.

Verbally a deal has been agreed that will see Kranevitter sign a five-year contract in a deal worth $8million but return to River on-loan until after the Club World Cup at the end of the year. Los Colchoneros have attempted to alter this agreement and have Kranevitter join their squad immediately but River have rebuffed this. President Rodolfo D’onofrio said: “It was never agreed that he leaves now. Verbally it was agreed that the only way was in December or he is not going.”

Despite this disagreement the deal is expected to be completed and after ensuring that his Italian passport is in order, in order to qualify as an EU player, Kranevitter will fly to Madrid.

Whether Kranevitter joins now or in January, Atlético know that they are getting an outstanding deal – a top class talent with the potential to be one of Europe’s leading central midfielders for only $8 million.

River Plate vice-president Matías Patanian told the Spanish press that he was in doubt that El Colo would be a success in Spain: “There is no doubt he will succeed at Atlético. Simeone knows him well. He has all the qualities to take the place of Mascherano in the national side.”