 Overall, he netted nine goals in the season as the team finished fourth overall, and was also its joint-leading goal scorer, along with José Sand.On 19 August 2009 Salvio scored twice in the first leg of Lanús' first stage Copa Sudamericana match, netting two late goals to help his team come from behind to defeat River Plate (2–1 away win, 3–1 on aggregate).In early January 2010, after months of speculation, he signed for Atlético Madrid in Spain, for a reported transfer fee of €10 million.