Atletico Madrid duo Carrasco/Gaitan join Dalian Yifang

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Atletico Madrid duo Yannick Carrasco and Nico Gaitan have completed transfers to Chinese Super League (CSL) club Dalian Yifang, the La Liga side announced on Monday.

Yifang later also confirmed the move on its website without mentioning the fees, but reports in Spain have claimed the pair cost Yifang 48 million euros in total, with Carrasco having a price tag of 30 million.

Belgian winger Carrasco made 124 appearances and scored 23 goals for Atletico Madrid after joining the club in 2015. Despite having earned a place in Atletico's Wanda Metropolitano's Walk of Legends, the 24-year-old is reported to have had a poor relationship with Atletico coach Diego Simeone this season.

Kevin Gameiro (2ndL) of Sevilla FC competes for the ball with Tiago Mendes (R) of Atletico de Madrid and his teammate Yannick Carrasco during the La Liga match between Sevilla FC and Club Atletico de Madrid at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on August 30, 2015 in Seville, Spain. /VCG Photo

Gaitan, the 30-year-old Argentine attacking midfielder, made a reputation in Europe with Portugal's Benfica. He scored 4 goals in 49 appearances for Atletico since arriving in 2016.

According to Yifang, Carrasco has long been a target for Barcelona and Chelsea, while Gaitan boasts "extraordinary leadership." Before the duo, the Chinese side failed in pursuing another Atletico star Fernando Torres, whose current contract is to expire at the end of this season.

Last year, Yifang claimed the crown of the second-tier Chinese league and earned promotion to the Chinese Super League. The Dalian-based outfit also signed Portuguese international Jose Fonte last week.

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Source(s): Xinhua News Agency