Real Madrid News
Real Madrid have identified AC Milan midfielder as an option for the summer – report
There is an inexplicable gap in the world of football when it comes to positions on the field. While there seems to be no dearth of talents in most parts of the field, it is incredibly difficult to lay hands on a quality defensive midfielder even after years of hunting.
The impact of such an imbalance is seen in the valuation of the few defensive midfielders available on the market. One is reminded of the €100 million Real Madrid shelled out for Aurelien Tchouameni in a similar situation.
One of the less talked about prospects as an able pivot is AC Milan’s Sandro Tonali. The Italian international has been consistently performing at a high level for the Serie A side, and at 22 years of age, has a long future ahead of him.
According to reports from ABC (h/t Madrid Xtra), Tonali is seen as an option by Real Madrid although there is no mention of any ongoing negotiations or agreement.
The youngster is indeed one of the brightest young talents coming from Italy. However, Real Madrid’s interest in him comes as an interesting piece of information.
Los Blancos already have their future in the holding midfield position sorted for at least a decade in the form of Tchouameni. The Frenchman instantly hit the ground running upon his arrival in Madrid and ensured that Casemiro’s absence was not felt.
If the Frenchman’s presence is not reassuring enough, his compatriot Eduardo Camavinga makes for a more than able backup.
In his few opportunities as the pivot, Camavinga has shown to possess the tactical understanding and skillset to succeed as a defensive midfielder and could even start in a double pivot with his national teammate.
But, Tonali is now said to be an option for Real Madrid for the summer, amid question marks over the futures of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
While Jude Bellingham has been the primary target to reinforce the midfield for Los Blancos, they are looking at a Plan B in case they do not land the Englishman. And the AC Milan mainstay could be one such alternative that Carlo Ancelotti’s side could be looking at.
Before he was hired by Bayern Munich as the direct replacement for Julian Nagelsmann, Thomas Tuchel was closely linked with a move to Real Madrid at the end of the season.
The German tactician had kept a close eye on the development at Santiago Bernabeu, especially with coach Carlo Ancelotti facing immense pressure following the club’s poor performances in domestic competitions.
A recent report from Jorge Picon has offered more details on the Tuchel saga, suggesting that the coach was even learning Spanish during his time at Ibiza, anticipating a potential move to Real Madrid at the end of the season.
There were even contacts made between Tuchel’s entourage and Real Madrid. Although the talks were positive, the two sides were not able to reach an agreement.
Real Madrid did not guarantee him the job. They had informed Tuchel that Ancelotti may continue at the Bernabeu in the event the club win the UEFA Champions League this season.
This bit of uncertainty played a critical role in convincing Tuchel to join Bayern Munich instead. The former Chelsea boss was hired as a direct replacement for Nagelsmann, who was sacked after a poor season in the Bundesliga by the club’s high standards.
However, Tuchel’s move to Bayern appears to be a missed opportunity on the German’s part, as Real Madrid have recently intensified their search for a new manager.
It is clear that the club’s hierarchy is yet to reach a consensus over the future of Ancelotti, with some believing that a change is necessary come the end of the season. In fact, the club’s president Florentino Perez has been an admirer of Tuchel’s compatriot Nagelsmann.
The coaching prodigy is one of the candidates to replace Ancelotti in the summer, though it is Mauricio Pochettion who is reportedly leading the race so far.
