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Spanish shopping spree: Yannick Carrasco and Nico Gaitan swap Atletico Madrid for Chinese Super League’s Dalian

Wingers arrive ahead of new season with World Cup dreams but double deal ends rumours of Fernando Torres heading to China

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Atletico Madrid players celebrate after beating FC Copenhagen in the Uefa Europa League. Photo: AFP
Jonathan White
Belgian international winger Yannick Carrasco and his Argentinian international teammate Nico Gaitan have swapped Spanish Primera Liga side Atletico Madrid for newly promoted Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang.

The shock double deal comes days after Chinese conglomerate Wanda Group sold their 17 per cent stake in the Spanish giants.

It has been widely reported in the mainland media that Wanda will soon announce the takeover of the Dalian club, although that has still not yet been confirmed.

No official figures for the transfers have been disclosed.

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Carrasco, 24, has played 124 times for Atletico since joining them from Monaco in 2015. He has also represented his country 22 times.

Gaitan arrived in Madrid from Portuguese side Benfica in 2016 and the 30-year-old made 49 appearances for them. He has 19 appearances for Argentina.

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Both players had been linked with transfers in recent months and make the move with the hopes of making this summer’s World Cup in Russia after falling out of favour at the Wanda Metropolitano.

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