Real Madrid News
Here we go – Liverpool hijack deal for former Real Madrid ace, club to retain buy-back clause
Former Real Madrid player Munoz is participating in the ongoing FIFA World Cup representing Spain, and his future has been a serious matter of discussion on the transfer market.
The player played at Osasuna last season and shone bright, earning a World Cup call-up and links with a big-money move this summer. Real Madrid reserves a buy-back clause but opted not to use it this summer.
Newcastle United, thus, emerged as frontrunners to sign the player with Real Madrid earning a fresh buy-back clause in the process. The idea was to retain control over his future and have the option to sign him back next summer.
Deal hijacked
In a surprising turn of events, Liverpool have arrived and hijacked the deal to sign Munoz, sweeping him straight off Newcastle’s radar as relayed by Fabrizio Romano.
The Merseyside giants have been looking for a replacement for Mohammed Salah, who left the club this summer, and they have now narrowed it down to Munoz to be the chosen one.
Munoz has a release clause valued at €40 million, and Liverpool are now set to sign the player on a long-term deal.
Needless to say, one of the concerns of the development is the future of the fresh buy-back clause that Real Madrid had negotiated with Newcastle.
The option persists
Notably, despite the transfer, Real Madrid will still have a buy-back clause for Munoz even if he signs for Liverpool.
The said clause will be available after the player’s first season at Liverpool, in the next summer transfer window. At that time, Real Madrid will have to make a decision on whether to call him back or forfeit the right to his future.
Liverpool have agreed to the clause only because they appreciate Real Madrid not activating their buyback clause this summer to allow his departure to the Premier League, and it thus comes as big news for Los Blancos that they will still have the chance to bring him back home if need be.
As matters stand, however, the player has already passed his medicals with Liverpool and is a new Merseyside player. Real Madrid are also set to pocket a massive windfall of close to €20 million in the process.
Real Madrid will be looking to pick up their fifth win of the 2026/27 La Liga season when they take on Elche CF at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero later tonight.
With 12 points from five games, Los Blancos are currently second in the league table, three points below leaders FC Barcelona.
As such, the Spanish capital club will be eager to get the win and close the gap to the top.
Guler starts, Bellingham rested
Ahead of kickoff, Real Madrid have announced the starting lineup that will take the field against Elche, with Jose Mourinho making some important changes.
For starters, Arda Guler is back in the lineup after appearing as a substitute in the win over Rayo Vallecano.
Interestingly, however, he starts in the attacking midfield role, with Mourinho opting to rest Jude Bellingham, who has started all of Real Madrid’s games so far.
That also means that Yan Diomande retains his place in the team, starting for a second time in a row on the right wing. Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. continue in their respective positions in attack.
Another notable change sees Aurelien Tchouameni make his first start of the season after recovering from injury and making two appearances off the bench.
He replaces Bernardo Silva as Federico Valverde’s partner in the middle of the park.
Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Marc Cucurella come in as full-backs, while Ibrahima Konate and Dean Huijsen slot in at centre-back in front of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
📋✅ ¡Nuestro XI inicial!
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) September 15, 2026
🆚 @ElcheCF
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