Barcelona & Atlético Madrid ready to battle over signature of Rayo Vallecano star | OneFootball

Two of La Liga’s leading clubs have set their respective sights on the signature of a member of the defensive ranks at Rayo Vallecano.

That’s according to Mundo Deportivo, who point towards Andrei Ratiu as the player in question.

For those not familiar with his name, Ratiu is a 26-year-old Romanian international, who shone for his country at the European Championships over the summer.

The one-time Villarreal talent has since carried such form into the new season, continuing to prove himself one of Rayo Vallecano’s star performers.

From his berth at right-back, Ratiu has racked up starts in all but three of Rayo’s La Liga fixtures, chipping in with a goal and an assist along the way.

And the ongoing excellence being displayed by the defender has not gone at all unnoticed, either in Spain, or across the continent.

As per MD:

‘Teams of the calibre of FC Barcelona, ​​Atlético de Madrid, Tottenham, Bayer Leverkusen and Roma have him on their agenda.’

Barca, for one, have already gone as far as to discuss the terms of a deal, with it added that a January departure from Vallecas is beginning to look ‘very likely’ for Ratiu.

Conor Laird – GSFN