Real Madrid News
Real Madrid, Manchester United submit ‘letter of interest’ for 20-year-old Barcelona target
According to reports from Danish outlet BT, Real Madrid have expressed their interest in 20-year-old talent Rasmus Hojlund, who plays for Atalanta BC in Italy.
The player is extensively being am discussed in the club offices who have confirmed their intentions with a ‘letter of interest.’ Interestingly, Manchester United are also eyeing the star and have also submitted a similar letter.
The 20-year-old talent plays primarily as a centre-forward and made the jump to Europe’s elite leagues only last year. After stints in Denmark and Austria, he signed for Serie A side Atalanta in August 2022 and has enjoyed a good run so far.
In 26 starts in the Italian top flight, Hojlund has scored seven goals and provided two assists in the process. He averages just under one key pass per game and has created one big chance so far.
Hojlund’s contract with Atalanta runs until the summer of 2027, implying that a large transfer fee is imminent considering the number of clubs eyeing him.
In fact, La Liga rivals Barcelona are said to be closely following his situation too as a long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski.
Real Madrid, like their Catalan counterparts, are in dire need of a successor for mainstay Karim Benzema. The Frenchman has enjoyed great form in recent weeks, but the first half of the season shows exactly why the Merengues must prioritise the centre-forward department.
Los Blancos have many more established stars on their radar including the likes of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe. And now, Hojlund, too, has emerged as a possible target, with the Merengues said to be holding a concrete interest in the 20-year-old striker.
That said, it remains to be seen whether they are willing to take a bet on Hojlund who has relatively little experience in the top flight, especially given how Luka Jovic’s case turned out.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s move to Saudi Arabia has triggered a wave of massive establishment within the country so much so that the league has approached players like Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Sergio Ramos and even Karim Benzema.
Benzema’s departure from Real Madrid is imminent and if a report from Diaro AS is to be believed, the Frenchman contacted his former Madrid teammate, Ronaldo, to ask him for information about the Saudi league, living conditions and other teams.
All this because it is said that the legendary Frenchman has received a lucrative offer from the newly crowned Saudi Pro League champions Al Ittihad. As reported before, the star striker will earn more than €100 million per year across his two-year contract with the Saudi team.
At the moment, the Saudi government has approved all of Benzema’s requests and while it is said that he can join the team of his choice, Al Ittihad’s recent flirting had made them absolute favourites.
That said, the transfer may have taken a u-turn recently, as Benzema spoke about staying at Real Madrid for the foreseeable future.
“Speak to the fans? Speak about what? Why should I speak of the future if I’m in Madrid?”, Benzema said.
“It’s the internet speaking, and reality is not the internet.”
In a recent turn of events, Helder Costa openly spoke about Benzema’s arrival, saying that his team is ‘excited about the arrival of the Balon d’Or winner.’ As if that is not enough, a club fan also showed a Karim Benzema edit on the big screen during their title celebrations.
Meanwhile, since the transfer is not confirmed, Real Madrid continue to be uninformed of Benzema’s decision. And this remains a major problem for the team from the capital city as their summer transfer plan hinges on the continuity of the Frenchman.
At the moment, the team is said to be closing in on the signing of Joselu from Espanyol. However, it must be noted that the forward will only be arriving on a season-long loan as Madrid already have big plans for the summer of 2024, with Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe both lined up.
