Real Madrid News
Real Madrid consider former striker as ideal alternative for Erling Haaland
Real Madrid are the undisputed favourite to get their hands on Kylian Mbappe this summer. But their pursuit of Erling Haaland has been met with several roadblocks and it appears the Borussia Dortmund starlet could be on his way to Manchester City in the summer.
It has prompted Real Madrid to consider other alternatives in the market. According to Diario AS, one of the potential options could be Raul de Tomas of Espanyol.
A product of the La Fabbrica youth academy, Raul de Tomas had worked his way up within the Real Madrid ranks before leaving the club in 2019, in favour of a move to SL Benfica.
But he could be on the verge of rejoining his boyhood club this summer, with Los Blancos reportedly targeting him as a potential back-up to their attacking trifecta of Vinicius Junior, Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe.
It appears Carlo Ancelotti is looking for a reliable centre-forward to complement these three world-class attackers. The existing options in Mariano Diaz and Luka Jovic are not favoured by the Italian and both could end up leaving the club at the end of the season.
That is where Raul de Tomas comes into the fray. A homegrown player who knows the club well, the 27-year-old offers an abundance of experience at the highest level of football.
In addition to his experience and familiarity with the Real Madrid setup, the Spaniard has been hugely successful in La Liga since joining Espanyol in early 2020.
In just over two years, he has racked up 43 goals in 85 competitive appearances, 15 of which have come in the ongoing campaign.
The 27-year-old’s performances have been critical in helping Espanyol remain out of the relegation scrap, but one would expect him to join a bigger club in the summer, especially Real Madrid currently on the hunt.
The report suggests de Tomas has a release clause embedded in his contract worth around €70 million. But Espanyol could be willing to offload him for a fee in the region of the €30-40 million mark, though. it won’t be surprising to see Real Madrid negotiate a lower price.
Real Madrid have finally received some good news as MARCA confirms that Nacho has finally made his decision about his future, and is set to continue at the club for the foreseeable future.
His contract expires in the summer, and Real Madrid had tabled an extension for the player, which was not accepted by the Spaniard at the time. Now, however, he has decided to reject offers from Juventus, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Inter Milan, and AC Milan.
Nacho will sign a one year extension, with the option to extend for another year if both parties reach an agreement.
His continuity also means that he will be the new club captain for the 2023/24 season, since Karim Benzema is leaving the club on a free transfer in the summer. Luka Modric will be second captain, followed by Daniel Carvajal and Toni Kroos.
Carlo Ancelotti has also spoken to the player, confirming that they trust him for next season in the team, which has gone a long way in helping convince the player.
The Italian gaffer also spoke about the Spanish defender’s contract situation after the game against Athletic Club yesterday, saying:
“Asensio, Nacho and Ceballos? We have explained them their roles. The club have offered them renewals. Asensio has preferred to leave, Ceballos and Nacho are still thinking about it.”
While a centre-back by trade, Nacho has played across the defence for Madrid continuously, including putting shifts at left-back, right-back, and even centre-back.
His departure would have probably pushed Madrid to sign another defender, especially since they are considering selling Ferland Mendy if a good offer arrives.
Regardless of that, though, Madrid are moving to sign Alphonso Davies, and have already made initial contacts with the player. Bayern Munich have not rejected their advances.
Further, the los blancos management have already met with Davies’ entourage twice, cementing their interest in the Canadian ace.
