Atletico Madrid have signed full-back Cristian Ansaldi on a season-long loan deal from Zenit St Petersburg.

The 27-year-old Argentina international joins the reigning La Liga champions after one season at the Petrovsky Stadium, which followed a five-year stint at their Russian Premier League rivals Rubin Kazan.

Atletico sporting director Jose Luis Perez Caminero said: “Ansaldi is a player who will help us to increase the competitiveness of the group.

“This is a side that can act in both attack and defence and the transfer makes us even more versatile. We are very pleased with this agreement.”

Ansaldi, who began his career at Argentinian side Newell’s Old Boys in 2005, before moving to Rubin Kazan three years later, has been capped three times by Argentina.

The left-back is Diego Simeone’s eighth signing of the summer, and his arrival comes just four days after Los Rojiblancos welcomed France winger Antoine Griezmann to the Vicente Calderon Stadium.