Real Madrid News
Real Madrid face major roadblocks in signing €20 million-rated Spanish defender
Real Madrid are reportedly interested in signing Aymeric Laporte from Al-Nassr, but they know signing the Spaniard would not be easy, explains journalist Rodra (h/t RM4 Arab).
Laporte’s potential transfer faces significant challenges, especially concerning the price Al-Nassr will demand, which is higher than what Real Madrid are willing to pay.
Furthermore, there are discussions around the possibility of securing the defender on a six-month loan, but even this option appears difficult due to the stance of the Saudi club.
In the light of recent injury crisis that deepened during last night’s home game against Osasuna, Real Madrid are beginning to accept that they will need to make a move in the transfer market.
The priority for the club is signing a centre-back, especially with the ongoing issues caused by injuries to Eder Militao and David Alaba. While a right-back has been on the radar for quite some time, the urgency for a centre-back has increased.
Laporte is liked by Real Madrid
The club’s board and sporting directors are aligned on one key target: Laporte. The 30-year-old Spanish defender is highly regarded by Real Madrid for several reasons.
His experience at the top level, including his recent performances in the European Championship, has caught the club’s attention.
Additionally, Laporte’s ability to play as a left-sided centre-back, combined with his excellent ball-playing skills, is seen as a crucial asset, particularly given Real Madrid’s struggles in this area since Alaba’s injury.
However, the road to bringing Laporte to Madrid is not simple. His current salary at Al-Nassr is far above what Real Madrid would offer, creating a significant financial hurdle.
Additionally, Al-Nassr may be reluctant to let him leave, especially for a six-month loan. The situation remains complicated, but Real Madrid are still hopeful they can find a solution to bring the experienced defender to the Spanish capital.
*Player valuation in title obtained from transfermarkt.com on date of publication.
Real Madrid News
Jose Mourinho was always clear about getting rid of Real Madrid midfielder this summer – report
Real Madrid’s summer transfer window was largely successful, not only in terms of securing key arrivals but also in terms of letting go of players who had no place in the dynamics.
One player who stood out in the second category was Dani Ceballos as the Spanish midfielder was frozen out of Real Madrid’s starting dynamics for several years before his eventual departure.
In the end, the club simply let the player leave as a free agent by accepting a contract termination as they saw the salary space freed as a win compared to his presence.
Mourinho’s clear stance
As confirmed in a recent report by Diario AS, Real Madrid’s new manager Jose Mourinho has no doubt that he did not count on Ceballos for the ongoing season.
Being the straightforward communicator that he is, the Portuguese manager directly informed Ceballos that he did not count on him in any capacity, speaking out loud about a fact that was known as an open secret for a long time.
Having clarity that his situation at the club was not going to change, Ceballos pressed to leave and eventually had his way as the club allowed him to walk out of the front door with no transfer fee.
Times were tense
The Spanish outlet also add that the decision to let the player leave with a contract termination was not easy for Real Madrid to accept, especially given that it is a last resort.
In the negotiations between Ceballos and the Real Madrid hierarchy, there were some moments filled with tension and disagreements.
In fact, there was even an initial exit agreement that was reached which was cancelled in the hope of a better outcome.
Eventually, however, both parties reached a fitting resolution and Real Madrid enabled the player’s departure without any hurdles and Ceballos went on to join Real Betis.
Even that move required the player to take a massive cut on his salary, but the saga worked out well for both clubs as the player. From Real Madrid’s perspective, the space created on the team’s roster was worth its weight in gold.
