Real Madrid News
Real Madrid key target inching closer to a renewal with Bundesliga giants
Real Madrid have been closely monitoring Schlotterbeck for some time, but Borussia Dortmund are not prepared to give up on their defender without a fight.
The German centre-back has attracted attention from several top clubs across Europe, with Real Madrid among the teams following his progress carefully.
However, Dortmund are now making serious efforts to ensure that the defender remains at the club for the foreseeable future.
According to a report from AS, the Bundesliga side have recently held two important meetings aimed at bringing Schlotterbeck closer to signing a new contract.
At the moment, the defender’s current deal with Dortmund runs until 2027.
That situation has made him an attractive option for clubs like Real Madrid, who are always looking for high-level defensive reinforcements.
Despite the growing interest from abroad, Dortmund are working with a strategy to convince the German international to stay.
What’s the story?
The Bundesliga club has presented the defender with a lucrative contract proposal while also offering an interesting compromise regarding his long-term future.
The idea is to keep Schlotterbeck at the club for now while leaving the door open for a negotiated transfer later if the right opportunity arises.
So far, there has been no final decision regarding the contract renewal. However, the discussions appear to be progressing in a positive direction, so much so that the most recent meeting between the club and the player ended on a very encouraging note.
Over the years, Dortmund have repeatedly followed a successful model of identifying young talent, developing them into top performers, and eventually selling them for large transfer fees.
In Schlotterbeck’s case, the club wants to ensure that they are in the best possible position when the time eventually comes to negotiate a transfer.
Allowing his contract to run down without any adjustment could have complicated matters and reduced his market value. That is why Dortmund have reacted in recent weeks to address the situation.
From Real Madrid’s perspective, the defender remains an interesting option.
However, with Dortmund now pushing hard to renew his contract and maintain control over his situation, any potential move could become more complicated.
Real Madrid are back in action in La Liga tonight after the three-week international break as they take on Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Having lost their previous game against Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid will be eager to get back to winning ways, especially with Barcelona on track to secure three more points and extending their lead at the top.
Ahead of kickoff at the Santiago Bernabeu later tonight, manager Jose Mourinho has announced the starting lineup that will take the field against Villarreal.
The big headline is that captain Federico Valverde is fit enough to start in midfield after having successfully recovered from the Grade 3 ankle sprain he had sustained during the derby defeat three weeks ago.
The Uruguayan international partners with Aurelien Tchouameni in the middle of the park, while Jude Bellingham continues as the attacking midfielder for the hosts.
The other major news comes in the form of Jose Mourinho deciding to bench Vinicius Jr., with Yan Diomande starting on the left wing.
Arda Guler slots in on the right flank, while Kylian Mbappe, having recovered from the minor injury he sustained during the international break, spearheads the attack.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alvaro Carreras get the nod as the two full-backs flanking the centre-back pairing of Ibrahima Konate and Antonio Rudiger. Thibaut Courtois guards the Real Madrid goal.
📋✅ ¡Nuestro XI inicial! 🆚 @VillarrealCF 👉 @UnicajaBanco https://t.co/t37afOwsPA
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) October 10, 2026
