Real Madrid News
Real Madrid monitoring €45 million-rated PSG defensive target – report
According to Santi Aouna on Footmercato, Real Madrid are monitoring Sporting CP defender Goncalo Inacio, who is also on the radars of Ligue 1 champions PSG.
Inacio is a product of the Sporting youth academy and has grown into a permanent fixture in the defensive line for Ruben Amorim’s side despite being just 21 years old. The young centre-half has already accumulated 110 appearances for the Portuguese club, 40 of which have come this term.
Inacio also made his debut for the Portuguese national team last week and has now featured twice for the European giants. Given his youth, potential and the level of experience he has already gathered, the defender has popped up on the radars of top teams across Europe.
PSG, who are in the market for defensive reinforcements, are keeping tabs on Inacio, but Real Madrid are also understood to be monitoring the 21-year-old Sporting mainstay.
Los Blancos have Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba, and Nacho as options in the centre-back department, along with Jesus Vallejo. The latter hardly plays while Nacho is being used as a full-back. Furthermore, his contract also expires at the end of the season.
And with Rudiger and Alaba into their thirties, a new, young centre-back signing could be the right move for Real Madrid, albeit not a priority at this point.
Nonetheless, they are keeping tabs on Inacio, while the likes of Josko Gvardiol and Antonio Silva are also on the radars of the Spanish and European champions.
Inacio’s contract with Sporting CP runs until 2026 and has a release clause worth €45 million and the Portuguese club are pointing his suitors towards that valuation.
It seems unlikely that Real Madrid will go after Inacio this summer, with reports suggesting that there will not be a major outlay in the summer. Jude Bellingham could, thus, end up being the only notable arrival, although there is no guarantee that the deal will go through as of yet.
Real Madrid have officially completed a move for Jude Bellingham for a total of €103 million in fixed transfer fee, plus €30 million in variables depending on the team and the Englishman’s performances over the course of the season.
This transfer makes Bellingham the second most expensive player in Real Madrid history after Eden Hazard, who signed for nearly €120 million in the summer of 2018.
The Spanish giants have been in talks with Dortmund and Bellingham over a long time, and convinced both parties by agreeing to their demands, including the fees, wages, and personal terms from the youngster.
One of Bellingham’s personal demands was related to his jersey number of choice, according to a report by Cadena SER.
He wanted to take one of #22 or #5 at Madrid. Unfortunately, though, both numbers are currently occupied by centre-backs in the team. Antonio Rudiger signed on a free agent last summer and took up #22, while Jesus Vallejo has been wearing the #5.
Neither of the two are starters for Carlo Ancelotti, with Eder Militao (#3), and David Alaba (#4) guarding the fort.
Bellingham is used to wearing #22 for Dortmund and the England national team, but he has also worn the #23, #10 #8 for the latter. Those numbers are also occupied, though, by Ferland Mendy, Luka Modric Toni Kroos, respectively.
That said, there will be multiple numbers free for Bellingham. Four players have already left the team, including Karim Benzema (#9), Eden Hazard (#7), Marco Asensio (#11), and Mariano Diaz (#24).
Reports have stated that Madrid are looking to give Bellingham the #7, as it has been a historic kit number for them. Cristiano Ronaldo wore it during his incredible tenure at Santiago Bernabeu, succeeding the legendary Raul.
While it has not seen worthy successors since, in Mariano and Hazard, it still remains one of the most valuable kits in Madrid history. Further, giving it to their blockbuster €100 million+ signing would definitely help jersey sales.
