Real Madrid News
Malaga star had rejected a move to Real Madrid in 2023 – report
Real Madrid are set to face Malaga in their third La Liga game of the season and will be hoping to make it three wins from three.
Los Blancos will come face to face with a player they once tried to sign for their academy when Malaga come to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Izan Merino, who turned down a move to the biggest club in the world, will now arrive as one of the most important players in Juanfran Funes’ side.
According to Diario AS, Madrid attempted to sign Merino in the summer of 2023, when he was just 17 and had yet to make his senior debut for Malaga.
Madrid move rejected three years ago
At the time, Malaga had just been relegated to Primera RFEF and were trying to rebuild around their academy.
Madrid offered €250,000 for Merino, but Malaga rejected the proposal and referred interested clubs to his €3 million release clause.
The player himself also chose continuity over an immediate move to Valdebebas. That decision has proven to be significant.
Merino made his first-team debut in the Copa del Rey in December 2023 and was part of the side that later won promotion back to Segunda.
He subsequently renewed his contract, first until 2027 and then until 2028. Three years on from Madrid’s approach, he arrives at the Bernabeu as a completely different player.
Merino now central to Malaga project
At just 20, Merino has already made 73 senior appearances for Malaga and established himself as one of the structural pieces in Funes’ team.
His versatility has also strengthened his development. Although naturally comfortable in midfield, he featured extensively as a centre-back for Spain at the recent Under-20 World Cup in Chile.
That ability to operate in two demanding central positions helps explain why he remains highly regarded at national-team level and is already being considered around the Spain Under-21 set-up.
For Madrid, his story is an interesting reminder that not every talented teenager needs to enter La Fabrica immediately to fulfil his potential.
Merino could have accepted the move in 2023 and taken a very different development path. Instead, he stayed at home, accumulated senior minutes and helped Malaga climb from the third tier back to La Liga.
This is a path that Racing Santander youngster Sergio Martinez could have taken, but the young Spaniard has chosen the option of moving to Madrid this summer.
Now he gets his first opportunity to play at the Bernabeu against the club that once wanted him.
All eyes will be on how Merino fares and, who knows, a move to Madrid could be on the cards in the future.
In what will come as a pleasing development for fans, Fabrizio Romano reports that Real Madrid forward Rodrygo could make a comeback from his injury earlier than expected.
The 25-year-old Brazilian international has been out of action since March after suffering an ACL injury during a La Liga game against Getafe.
Due to the complete rupture of the ACL, coupled with associated meniscus damage, it was suggested that the attacker was staring at a lengthy time out on the sidelines and might not return until 2027.
In fact, the forward’s father, Eric Goes, recently stated in an interview that the Real Madrid ace could be back in February next year, just before the business end of the campaign.
Rodrygo could be back in December
However, as per the update from Romano, Rodrygo’s comeback could happen well before that expected date.
Indeed, if things continue to progress at the current rate, the 25-year-old attacker might return to action in December or by January 2027 at the latest.
This will come as a welcome boost for Jose Mourinho & co., considering that Rodrygo is a valuable player for the team.
Even though he had endured a tough spell prior to his form, the Brazilian’s versatility, work rate off the ball, and eye for a goal make him an asset.
Rodrygo eager to be back at his best
The update from Romano further states that Rodrygo feels very grateful to Real Madrid for all the help and support they have given him during this difficult phase of his career.
As such, the Brazilian international has made it a mission to return to action in the best shape possible and make an impact from the get-go.
The attacker has only recently begun working on the pitch with the ball indicating the significant progress he has made on the road to recovery.
And, if there are no setbacks, Real Madrid could recover one of their ace attackers before the end of the current year.
So far in his career, Rodrygo has made 297 appearances for Real Madrid, scoring 71 goals. He has a contract with the club until 2028.
