Real Madrid News
Chelsea set to rival Real Madrid in pursuit of Bundesliga teenage sensation
Jude Bellingham’s pursuit was seen as a two-horse race for a long time, with Liverpool and Real Madrid being the most likely options on the table. The Merengues promised a strong sporting project to compete on all fronts while the Reds’ primary selling point was a return to England.
When Manchester City joined the race last week, it came as a massive surprise. By virtue of their world-class squad and coffers, Pep Guardiola’s side jumped right into the mix.
According to reports from Matt Law, there are more than just two Premier League sides eyeing the midfielder. Chelsea are very interested in signing Bellingham and are ready to make a move for him.
The London-based side’s interest in the youngster is not surprising, especially when one considers the panic-stricken approach their board has adopted after the recent slump in form. Chelsea have spent close to €700 million in the last two transfer windows and have a squad with obnoxious depth.
However, Graham Potter’s side do not present as a very tempting option from a sporting perspective. Chelsea are barely in the top half of the table with 22 games played and do not seem to have a plan in place.
Further, the heavy competition in the middle of the park at Stamford Bridge could deter Bellingham’s possible move.
Reports claimed that Florentino Perez is willing to shell out close to €130 million for the youngster as Carlo Ancelotti sees him as a non-negotiable in next season’s plans.
Real Madrid wish to make him their only big signing of the summer and see his profile as the perfect complement to Aurelien Tchouameni, Federico Valverde, and Eduardo Camavinga.
But with Chelsea now joining the bandwagon of suitors, along with Liverpool and Manchester City, Real Madrid will have their task cut out if they are to secure the signing of the 19-year-old midfield sensation.
According to TeamTalk, Real Madrid have joined the growing list of clubs monitoring Gabriel Rajkovic, a 15-year-old winger whose rapid development at Valerenga has already attracted attention from several of Europe’s leading sides.
The Merengues are known for keeping an eye on exciting young talent across the globe and it seems that Rajkovic’s exploits in Norway, with the first team, have alerted them.
Real Madrid keeping tabs on Rajkovic
As per the report, Real Madrid are among a host of clubs closely following the progress of the young forward.
Rajkovic holds both Norwegian and Serbian nationality and has emerged as one of the most promising young players in Norway.
His development has not gone unnoticed, with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund also understood to be monitoring him.
However, at this point, it is Arsenal and Chelsea, who are understood to be leading the charge for Rajkovic, having compiled a detailed dossier on the teenage prodigy after extensive scouting.
On top of that, the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have all watched Rajkovic in recent weeks.
Real Madrid could therefore face significant competition if they decide to step up their interest in a player who has already made an impression at senior level.
Making an impact at just 15
Rajkovic was handed a promotion to the Valerenga first-team squad in January earlier this year, when he was only 14 years old.
Following that, he signed a new contract with the club in March, when he turned 15, committing to the club until 2028.
Despite being only 15, the winger has already begun gaining experience in first-team football. In all, he has made 14 senior appearances for the Norwegian outfit, scoring three and assisting one goal.
Rajkovic has also represented Norway Under-16s, making two appearances and scoring once despite being younger than many of his teammates.
Those numbers become more impressive when his age and stage of development are taken into account.
Real Madrid have built a reputation for identifying young talent well before players reach their peak, and Rajkovic has now emerged as another name on their scouting radar.
But given the number of clubs in the race, signing the teenage wonderkid will not be easy.
