Atlético Madrid have sold their stake in Lens already | OneFootball

Atlético Madrid have sold their share in French Ligue 2 club RC Lens just 18 months after making the investment.

The La Liga giants bought 34.6% of Lens in July 2016 – a move which also saw Luxembourg-based company Solferino become majority shareholders at a club threatened with bankruptcy.

But there has been little public connection between the two clubs in the intervening months and Atlético have now sold their share off to Solferino chief Joseph Oughourlian.

“Solferino and Atlético Madrid have reached an agreement for the Luxemburger company to acquire the 34.6% of Racing Club de Lens, which our club had owned,” read a statement from Atlético.

“I am happy to be able to announce the sealing of this agreement, which confirms the renewal of our commitment to a mythic club like Lens,” Oughourlian told Lens’ official website.

“I want to thank Atlético Madrid who have been at our side as a strategic and trusted partner.”

Atlético board member Ignacio Aguillo has also reportedly ended his involvement with Lens and the Spanish club will continue to scale back the global expansion plans which were initially part of their deal with Chinese backers Wanda.

According to Madrid daily El Pais, Atleti’s initial investment in Lens amounted to €5.6 million and the sale came a day after the board announced a €5m profit from the 2016/17 season, with record revenues expected for 2017/18.

Los Rojiblancos previously had an involvement with Indian Super League side Atlético Kolkata before their 25% stake was bought out by the West Bengal club’s principal owner Sanjiv Goenka.

As of March this year, they also own 50% of Liga MX club Atlético San Luis.