Real Madrid News
Bayern Munich, AC Milan, and Juventus interested in veteran Real Madrid defender
Nacho Fernandez is one among several Real Madrid players whose contracts stand to expire at the end of the ongoing season.
One of the few one-club footballers left currently, the 32-year-old has spent his entire career at Real Madrid, racking up close to 300 appearances and winning a host of titles and trophies.
While he has never been a permanent fixture in the starting lineups, Nacho has endeared himself with the fanbase as well as the managers he has played under due to his versatile nature, leadership, professionalism, and attitude.
However, since the summer arrival of Antonio Rudiger, the Spaniard has found himself warming the benches more often than not. Unhappy with his current situation, Nacho has pressed pause on the contract talks with Real Madrid as he considers his future.
Amidst this, Mundo Deportivo is now reporting that should Nacho decide to leave in the summer, Real Madrid will not cause any problems. And the 32-year-old is unlikely to be short on offers either.
In the past, clubs like Aston Villa and Wolves have been linked with Nacho. However, as per the report, European elites such as AC Milan and Juventus are also showing an interest in securing the services of the veteran Real Madrid star.
On top of that, it is also reported that German champions Bayern Munich are also keeping a close eye on the developments surrounding the future of Nacho.
Bayern’s interest certainly comes out as intriguing, although their recent capture of Daley Blind on a free transfer showed that Die Roten are open to shrewd market opportunities. And Nacho has the capability to be a smart addition due to his experience and leadership.
With less than six months on his contract, it remains to be seen if Nacho is willing to negotiate a new deal with Real Madrid or decides to take on a new adventure come summer.
Real Madrid are looking towards a heavy splurge in the coming summer transfer window. After all, they do not even have another option given the sheer number of player departures already finalized.
Los Blancos have lost the services of Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio, Mariano Diaz, and Eden Hazard over the past week. While three of the four players predominantly featured on the bench, their presence in the squad gave Carlo Ancelotti’s side much-needed depth and a cushion of sorts.
The forward unit is, thus, the most prioritized department ahead of the transfer window. However, pieces are beginning to fall apart on other fronts and could potentially put the club in a difficult situation.
According to reports from Gianluca Di Marzio, Juventus are eyeing Lucas Vazquez and hope to sign him in the coming month. Contacts between the two parties have begun and the transfer fee discussed appears to be around the €6 million to €8 million ballpark given that he has just one year left on his contract.
The player, for his part, is willing to sign for the Italian giants given his relative lack of minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu. At 31 years of age, he understandably does not want to play a second-fiddle role.
Vasquez played part in 23 of Real Madrid’s 38 La Liga games last season, starting only on 12 occasions. Even in his few appearances, he averaged a mere 50 minutes per game.
The veteran completed the season with four goals and an assist to his name. Further, he averaged five defensive actions and a key pass in every game and feels hard done by his limited role.
Vazquez’s departure would place the club in a tricky situation as it would leave Real Madrid with only Dani Carvajal as a natural right-back option. Nacho Fernandez could, in theory, serve as the backup but a new signing for the position cannot be ruled out.
