RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazil under-23 left-back Caio Henrique is poised to return to Atletico Madrid after the Spanish club aborted his loan deal with Gremio, according to media reports.

The 22-year-old had been due to remain at Gremio until December however Atletico activated a clause in the deal that allows him to return to Spain in July, Globo Esporte reported

The 22-year-old had been due to remain at Gremio until December however Atletico activated a clause in the deal that allows him to return to Spain in July, Globo Esporte reported.

It added that Atletico boss Diego Simeone made the decision because of doubt over when the next transfer window will be held and his team's lack of left-back options beyond Renan Lodi.

Henrique has made just one first-team appearance for Atletico, having joined the club from Santos in 2016. He has since had successful loan spells at Brazilian clubs Parana and Fluminense.

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The defender joined Gremio in January but played only five times for the Porto Alegre side before Brazilian football was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Spain's La Liga is due to resume on June 11, three months after it was halted because of the health crisis.

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Capped nine times for Brazil's under-23 team, Henrique is contracted to Atletico until June 2023.