Real Madrid News
PSG president confirms interest in Real Madrid priority target: “What a player”
Speaking in an interview with Sky Sports, Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has confirmed that the club are interested in signing Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund. The 19-year-old is also a top target for Real Madrid and Liverpool.
Just 19 years of age, Bellingham has the world at his feet. He has enjoyed a meteoric rise to the top since joining Dortmund in 2020 and is widely regarded as one of the best young midfielders in the game, along with Pedri.
Having made waves in the Bundesliga over the past couple of seasons, Bellingham is now turning it on at the biggest stage of all as he has emerged as one of the topmost performers at the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar with England.
Indeed, the teenager has played a key role in the Three Lions’ run to the quarter-finals, where they will be facing France.
Real Madrid have held a long-standing interest in Bellingham and have been working on getting a deal done for the teenage sensation. However, they were already facing stiff competition from the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City.
Now, PSG, too, have thrown their hat in the ring, with Al-Khelaifi pretty much confirming that the Ligue 1 champions are keen on the Dortmund star.
“Everybody wants him, I’m not going to hide it. He’s at his club, and (we have) respect, so if we want to talk to him we’ll talk to the club first,” the PSG president said.
“Amazing player, what a player. England (are) lucky to have to him, to be honest. He’s one of the best players in the tournament. (It’s) amazing, his first World Cup, he’s calm and relaxed, confident – amazing,” he added.
Bellingham’s rise in stature has led to his valuation increasing exponentially. So much so that Dortmund are confident of getting around €150 million in transfer fees for the teenage wonderkid.
However, as per recent reports, Real Madrid would be unwilling to meet that figure, which had made Liverpool favourites for his signing. But with PSG now entering the race, the scenario could change.
Real Madrid opted to renew Antonio Rudiger’s contract this past summer to keep him at the club for one more season.
The 33-year-old veteran defender, though, has not been performing at his best, with physical problems taking their toll and age starting to catch up with him.
As such, the expectation is that Los Blancos will not extend his contract again when his current one expires on 30 June 2027.
Tottenham eye Antonio Rudiger
And, according to reports relayed by AS, Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur are plotting a free-transfer swoop to sign Rudiger in the summer of next year.
The north London club are understood to be keen on reinforcing their backline next year and see the German defender as an option, given his experience in the Premier League and the fact that he would be available for free in the summer.
So far this season, Rudiger has played only five games for Real Madrid, amounting to a total of 396 minutes.
The 33-year-old has even chipped in with two goals, including the all-important winner in the 4-3 comeback victory over AS Roma on Wednesday night.
Time to move on?
Despite Rudiger being a hugely respected figure in the Real Madrid locker room, he is currently the third-choice centre-back for Jose Mourinho.
After all, summer signing Ibrahima Konate and Dean Huijsen have been preferred by the manager so far in the new season.
Moreover, with Eder Militao set to return imminently after a lengthy injury layoff, Rudiger’s game-time could be impacted further.
Given the situation and factoring in Real Madrid’s plans to sign another centre-back next summer, it is pretty much evident that Rudiger does not feature in the club’s plans for beyond this season.
As such, a separation of ways seems pretty likely when his contract expires, and Tottenham are now positioning themselves as early suitors to sign Rudiger as a free agent in 2027.
