HNK Hajduk Split are in urgent negotiations to sign forward Carlos Martín from Atlético Madrid. The Croatian club is trying to capitalise on an unexpected turn of events after Martín's transfer to Almería collapsed at the last minute, as reported by Index.hr Sport.
The HNL club has until September 7 to complete its transfer business, but is under even more pressure due to UEFA's deadline for submitting the Conference League squad list. List A must be submitted by 23:59 on Monday, September 2, giving Hajduk only a few days to potentially complete this spectacular move. They currently sit 4th in the HNL with 10 points from five games, with three wins, one draw, and one loss. In the title race, they are just two points behind leaders NK Osijek.
Why is Carlos Martín suddenly available?
The transfer of the 24-year-old Spaniard to Almería was not completed on time. As AS reported, "Transfer nije dovršen na vrijeme." The Spanish transfer window closed before the loan paperwork was submitted to La Liga. This left Martín as an Atlético player, even though he was already expected in Almería. This twist opened the door for other clubs, and Hajduk was among those who had previously inquired about signing the forward.
Marca commented: "Hajduku se otvara put za Carlosa Martína." Competition for his signature is now significantly reduced. Before the failure with Almería, Martín was of interest to Levante, Valladolid, Tenerife, Castellón, and even English side Southampton, besides Hajduk. The path to negotiations with the Whites is now much clearer.
What is Carlos Martín's profile?
Carlos Martín is a product of the Atlético Madrid youth academy, which he joined in 2008 at just six years old. He made his first-team debut for 'Los Colchoneros' in November 2021 against Osasuna. His best senior performance was in the 2023/24 season on loan at Mirandés, where he scored 15 goals in 40 appearances in the Segunda División. That output prompted Atlético to extend his contract until June 2029.
Loans to Alavés and Rayo Vallecano followed. This season he started the first match against Rayo Vallecano, but has struggled to break into the regular lineup under coach Diego Simeone. In Atlético's attack, competition is fierce with players like Julián Álvarez, Alexander Sørloth, and Jonathan David. A move to Split would offer him a chance for regular minutes on the pitch.
How would Martín fit into Hajduk's current squad?
If the transfer succeeds, Carlos Martín would provide a new option for attack and wide positions for coach Gonzalo García. Hajduk has already strengthened with several names this summer. Marin Šotiček, Dennis Hadžikadunić, and Khalil Fayad have arrived at the club. Joining them as a free agent is Leander Dendoncker, the former Belgian international and player for Wolverhampton and Aston Villa, who is expected to strengthen the midfield.
The team currently has a positive goal difference of +6, with 11 scored and 5 conceded goals. Their recent form is WWWDL. The addition of a quality forward like Martín could be key in continuing the title fight. All data on the current squad and statistics are available on our squad page.
What are the next steps for Hajduk?
First, the club must submit its UEFA list. Then they face an away match at Rudes on Saturday, September 6. Rudes is currently in 8th place in the table. This match will be an important test for Hajduk in their effort to keep in touch with the top. The full match schedule can be found on our fixtures page.
For now, there is no confirmation that Hajduk and Atlético Madrid have reached an agreement or that Carlos Martín has accepted the offer. However, the situation has changed dramatically in favour of the Split club. Time is on their side, but there is very little of it. Carlos Martín's contract with Atlético Madrid runs until the summer of 2029.
