MADRID (AP) Atletico Madrid has signed Argentine striker Luciano Vietto from fellow Spanish club Villarreal, in a deal which sees the 21-year-old reunited with coach Diego Simeone.
Vietto, who has agreed a six-year contract with the 2014 Spanish champions, was greeted by Atletico's fans at its practice grounds on Thursday a day after participating in his first training session under Simeone.
Simeone gave Vietto his professional debut at the age of 17 while coaching Argentine club Racing.
''Simeone knows me since I was a kid,'' Vietto said. ''As soon as they told me Atletico was interested in me and he called me, I really wanted to come and join him again because in Argentina we weren't together long and I still have a lot to learn.''
Vietto scored 20 goals for Villarreal last season, his first in Spain.
He will share an attack with fellow newcomer Jackson Martinez and Fernando Torres.
Vietto said he struggled to meet Simeone's demands in an intense first training session under the hot summer sun.
''I had to quit because I couldn't keep up,'' Vietto said. ''(Simone) told me I had to prepare myself and get in good physical shape so I could be on the same level as my teammates.''
