Real Madrid News
Bellingham set to snub Liverpool in favour of Real Madrid in 2023 – report
According to GOAL, Real Madrid have been given a massive boost in their pursuit of Jude Bellingham. The English international has emerged as the club’s top target this season and they are expected to prioritise his move in the summer of 2023.
Borussia Dortmund, for their part, are resigned to losing Bellingham, but only after the end of the season. The midfielder, who enjoyed an excellent World Cup campaign with England, has no shortage of suitors either, with the likes of Liverpool also interested in his services.
The Premier League giants consider Bellingham as one of their top targets. The club have even utilised Jordan Henderson to try and convince his England teammate to make the move to Anfield next season.
But as per the report, Bellingham is set to snub Liverpool, in favour of a move to the Santiago Bernabeu.
His potential move to Real Madrid could see him unite with the likes of Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, and Federico Valverde – forming a midfield unit that could serve the club in the years to come.
Bellingham, in particular, has been identified as the ideal long-term replacement for Luka Modric.
The ageing midfielder’s current contract at the Bernabeu expires at the end of the season. Although Real Madrid want him to continue for at least another season, the club need a proper replacement sooner rather than later.
That is where Bellingham comes into the fray. The Englishman is blessed with immense technical skill, along with the leadership and maturity to thrive at a club like Real Madrid.
The report further suggests that Los Blancos have already made the necessary arrangements to incorporate Bellingham into the squad.
The Borussia Dortmund starlet is expected to cost around €120 million, though the figure may certainly increase, depending on the negotiations between the two clubs.
It is astounding that despite being the biggest club in Spain, Real Madrid do not have many Spanish players to show for it.
Los Blancos do indeed boast of a special diversity in the dressing room, but their lack of locally trained players could pose problems according to MARCA.
The Spanish outlet confirms that UEFA does not mandate the inclusion of any minimum number of locally grown players for a club. However, the Spanish federation stipulates that a club in Spain must boast of at least eight players who meet a specific set of conditions.
Of the aforementioned eight candidates, there must be at least four players who have spent three seasons or 36 months at the club between the ages of 15 and 21.
Currently, only Nacho Fernandez, Dani Carvajal, Lucas Vazquez, Federico Valverde, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Mariano make up the required number on that front.
The problem, however, arises with the condition for the other four players in the list of eight. RFEF stipulates that the second set of four players must have completed at least 36 months in teams attached to the federation of Spain between the ages of 15 and 21.
Only Jesus Vallejo, Alvaro Odriozola, Marco Asensio and Dani Ceballos tick the aforementioned box. However, all four players have uncertain futures at the club and are well-placed to depart in the summer.
There are thus big decisions to be taken over the transfer strategy for June. Real Madrid can work ways to ship all four players out, it would require the re-integration of players like Sergio Arribas, Miguel Gutierrez or Fran Garcia to ensure the fulfilment of the criteria.
With both Vallejo and Odriozola seemingly frozen out of Ancelotti’s plans, their departures from Santiago Bernabeu appear inevitable. Thus, the management could be forced to renew one of Asensio or Ceballos come June.
