Morten Hjulmand, who joined Sporting in 2023 from Italian club Lecce, was surprisingly not with his manager Ruben Amorim on the move to Manchester United. – He chose to stay in Portugal as he wanted to gain more experience before a possible switch to a giant club with great competition for places.
Now, according to Danish Bold, he should be ready, but a transfer this winter was stopped by manager Rui Borges.
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Atlético Madrid continues to keep a close eye on Morten Hjulmand
Morten Hjulmand has become one of the names to keep an eye on in the upcoming summer transfer window. His performances and leadership skills in Portugal have not gone unnoticed by several top clubs.
Atlético Madrid already tried to get ahead this winter and although they did not succeed, they are keeping an operation alive that can be reactivated in a few months.
Sporting halted his departure in the winter.
Atlético Madrid tried to finalize the signing of Morten Hjulmand in the last days of the winter market. The operation was worked on intensely, but Sporting de Portugal was resolute in its stand.
The Portuguese club was not willing to let the captain and midfield’s key player leave in the middle of the season. Hjulmand is a key player in the team, both for his footballing contributions and leadership in the dressing room, and his departure in January would be a serious blow to them.
Lisbon made it clear that any negotiations would be postponed until the summer. The rejection was firm, but did not finally close the door, something Atlético noticed from the start.
At the Metropolitano, they believe Hjulmand fits perfectly into the profile they are looking for to strengthen their midfield. Intensity, tactical order, competitive instinct and the ability to carry the team in demanding situations are highly valued qualities of the red and white club.
The winter’s rejection has therefore not dampened their interest. On the contrary, the Danish player’s name remains clearly marked on Atlético de Madrid’s agenda for the upcoming summer transfer window, where the club hopes to have more leeway and negotiation opportunities.
The summer planning involves reinforcing the midfield with a player who can immediately provide balance and reliability. In this context, Hjulmand stands out as a top option, especially if departures free up space and budget.
An inevitable step up in level.
As a 26-year-old, Morten Hjulmand feels that it is time to take a step forward in his career. His development at Sporting has been steady, and his role as captain has bolstered his profile as a midfielder ready to compete at a higher level.
Atlético Madrid is not the only club that is monitoring his situation closely. Several Premier League clubs are also monitoring his development closely, aware that his style of play would fit seamlessly into English football. The competition will therefore be fierce.
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Sporting know that it will be challenging to keep him forever. While they won’t make it easy for him to leave, the summer presents a very different scenario than January, with more time for negotiations and sums that may be difficult to reject.
For now, Hjulmand remains focused on performing in Portugal, but his future seems to be moving away from Lisbon. Atlético have taken the first step and are ready to make another attempt. The summer seems to be the decisive moment to determine whether the Danish midfielder fulfills his desire to make a final leap and land in one of the major European leagues.
