Real Madrid News
Real Madrid presidential candidate plans to sell superstar forward to make room for Haaland – report
The debate surrounding Real Madrid’s presidential elections continues to intensify, and a new report has now raised questions about the future of one of the club’s biggest stars.
According to Rodra (h/t RM4 Arab), sources close to presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme believe that Vinicius Jr. could be placed on the transfer market if he wins the election.
While the candidate has not publicly acknowledged such a plan, the report suggests that significant changes to the squad could accompany his ambitious sporting project.
The speculation arrives shortly after Riquelme’s headline-grabbing promise to bring both Erling Haaland and Rodri to the Santiago Bernabeu if elected president.
Vinicius to be sacrificed in Haaland project
Riquelme’s campaign has largely centred around the promise of delivering world-class signings to Real Madrid.
The candidate recently stated that both Haaland and Rodri would become Real Madrid players under his presidency, although reports surrounding Haaland have already faced public denials from people close to the Manchester City striker.
Now, attention has shifted to how such a project would actually function from a sporting perspective.
On paper, accommodating Vinicius, Kylian Mbappe and Haaland in the same starting line-up would create major tactical questions.
All three players would expect central roles in the project, while balancing their strengths within a single system would be a significant challenge for any coach.
That reality has fuelled speculation that one major departure could eventually be required if Haaland were to arrive.
So what now?
According to the report, Vinicius is viewed by Riquelme as the most likely candidate in that scenario, although there is currently no public confirmation from him on that matter.
Meanwhile, Florentino Perez’s position appears very different. The current president has consistently prioritised Vinicius’ contract renewal and sees the Brazilian as one of the foundations of the club’s future.
While the idea of pairing Mbappe and Haaland would undoubtedly excite supporters, parting ways with Vinicius would represent an enormous risk.
The Brazilian has established himself as one of Real Madrid’s most influential players over the last several seasons and remains one of the team’s biggest match-winners.
That is why the identity of the coach would also become crucial in any scenario involving multiple superstar forwards.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid weighing up January move for €70 million-rated Arsenal midfielder – report
Real Madrid’s midfield is the one department where Jose Mourinho sees clear scope for improvement, especially given that the club did not sanction his wish for a top midfield signing in the summer.
While Bernardo Silva has chipped in as a handy option to feature in the deep midfield, the club still lacks a controlling and creative option who can glue the team together.
In that sense, there is a clear lacuna that Real Madrid need to address and Defensa Central brings to light that the club have opened up to a potential target.
Zubimendi emerges as a target
Indeed, the player in question is Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi who the club have seen as a target for a long time, and Real Madrid could even go on to sign him in January.
The Spanish international has not started off the new season well under Mikel Arteta and has primarily featured as a substitute. He does, thus, see a move to Madrid with good eyes in every sense.
Real Madrid, for their part, have not ruled out his signing as was reported in recent months and there is even a chance they seriously pursue him in the winter transfer window as a mid-season fix.
The possible fee
The Spanish outlet also add that Zubimendi’s move to Real Madrid could be completed for a fee similar to what Arsenal paid for the player for his transfer from Real Sociedad – €70 million.
Mourinho’s insistence on making a new midfield signing is no secret, and with a clear target now in mind, the board could well back him with the player he wishes.
Notably, however, even Chelsea are seriously interested in his signing.
So far, Federico Valverde has been Real Madrid’s mainstay in midfield, and Aurelien Tchouameni’s return will change the team’s dynamics in the department.
Neither player, however, offers the control and distribution skill set that the team direly lack.
A big part of whether or not the club pushes for Zubimendi, however, will depend on how the Valverde-Tchouameni combination plays out in the coming months. It is, after all, the manager’s first-choice combination for big games.
