Atletico Madrid has agreed a deal to loan its Argentinean striker Eduardo Salvio to Portuguese side Benfica for the forthcoming season. Atletico confirmed the news on its official website this Thursday, thus ending several days' speculation about the future of the 20-year-old Argentinean. Salvio joined Atletico Madrid from Argentinean side Lanus last January and made 13 appearances in the second half of the season, scoring two goals and impressing with his pace. However, the fact that he does not count on a European passport became a problem for Salvio after Atletico signed Uruguayan stopper Diego Godin and decided to recover Brazilian forward Diego Costa following his season long loan to Valladolid. Costa's return to the Atletico squad meant that the club had too many non-EU players and one of them had to move on if they wanted to be able to play this season. Finally Atletico has decided that the player to move will be Salvio. Atletico coach Quique Sanchez Flores had commented that he had hoped the loan deal would be just until the winter transfer market opens in January, but in the end both clubs have opted for a season long deal. Benfica will hope that Salvio performs as well as Jose Antonio Reyes did when on loan with them from Atletico two seasons ago, while the Spanish outfit will be looking for the youngster to gain experience and develop maturity in his season playing in Portugal. 