Spanish international Vitolo has travelled to Madrid to begin his recuperation from a hamstring injury before officially joining Atletico Madrid in January.

The winger was loaned to Las Palmas for the first half of the season after Atletico paid his 37.5 million euro ($44.5 million) buyout clause from Sevilla in July.

Atletico were banned from registering new players during the summer window as a punishment for breaking FIFA's rules regarding the signing of foreign players under the age of 16.

"I have come here to recuperate with the Atletico medical team. It is an agreement between the clubs," Vitolo said as he arrived in the Spanish capital on Friday.

Vitolo's temporary move to his home town club hasn't been a successful one as Las Palmas are mired in the relegation zone and already looking for their third coach of the season following Pako Ayestaran's sacking on Thursday.

A series of injuries have also meant the 28-year-old has missed out on Julen Lopetegui's recent Spain squads despite being a key player early on in Spain's World Cup qualifying campaign.

Vitolo left the field in tears after his latest setback as Las Palmas reached the last 16 of the Copa del Rey against Deportivo la Coruna on Wednesday with a hamstring injury that is expected to keep him sidelined for the rest of the year.

"I have had three injuries in the short time since I arrived at Las Palmas. When I arrived I thought it would be different," added Vitolo.

"In the end there have been bad times, above all because of the injuries that haven't allowed me to be comfortable."