Monaco sign Portugal winger Gelson Martins on loan from Atletico Madrid

Gelson Martins has struggled for playing time in Spain.

Monaco have completed the loan signing of Gelson Martins from Atletico Madrid.

Martins, 23, has made only 12 appearances under manager Diego Simeone since joining them in a controversial move last July when he rescinded his contract at Sporting Lisbon and left the club on a free transfer.

🖊🇵🇹 AS Monaco is delighted to announce the arrival of Gelson Martins on loan from Atlético Madrid until the end of the season.#WelcomeToMonaco 🇮🇩 pic.twitter.com/pXUHzYJB7R

— AS Monaco EN (@AS_Monaco_EN) January 27, 2019

The Cape Verde-born winger, who plays for Portugal, succeeded in getting his release from Sporting after falling out with former president Bruno Carvalho last season and an attack by more than 50 fans at the training ground in May.

Martins, who came through the same academy as Luis Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo, now joins struggling Monaco, who sacked manager Thierry Henry with the club in the relegation zone.