Real Madrid News
Real Madrid set for surprise cash injection from former academy star bound for Serie A move
Real Madrid’s transfer plans this summer are expected to focus on arrivals, but one potential source of income could come from a player who no longer wears the club’s shirt.
According to AS, the Los Blancos are closely monitoring the situation of Rafael Obrador, whose impressive rise over the past few months could end up generating a welcome financial boost for the Santiago Bernabéu side.
While Obrador left Madrid last year, the club ensured they remained connected to his future.
It is a strategy the Real Madrid hierarchy has used repeatedly with academy graduates, and once again it appears to be working exactly as intended.
Real Madrid keeping an eye
When Real Madrid agreed to sell Obrador to Benfica last summer, they did not completely cut ties with the young left-back.
Notably, the club retained 50% of the player’s rights, allowing them to benefit from any future increase in value while also maintaining a degree of control through contractual mechanisms.
At the time, the move attracted little attention, as Obrador arrived in Portugal with promise but struggled to establish himself immediately and was subsequently loaned to Torino during the January transfer window.
Ultimately, the defender impressed in Serie A, earning regular opportunities and significantly raising his profile across Europe.
His performances have attracted the attention of several clubs, and his market value has grown considerably since leaving Spain, with one of the clubs now tracking him are Roma.
Roma aiding Real Madrid
According to information, the Champions League-bound Italian side are considering Obrador as an option to strengthen the left side of their defence ahead of next season.
Any move would require negotiations with Benfica, but Real Madrid would still have an important role to play because of the clauses attached to the original deal.
The defender’s current market value, as per Transfermarkt, is €4 million, meaning that if Roma are to pay that fee, Real Madrid would outright pocket €2 million.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. admits finishing problem after another frustrating night vs Elche: ‘Can’t miss that much’
Vinicius Jr.’s difficult start in front of goal continued against Elche, and the Real Madrid forward did not need anyone to tell him he had missed another chance to make the difference.
The Brazilian finished the night without a goal despite having chances to get on the scoresheet, while his teammates could only watch from the bench as opportunities went begging.
Jose Mourinho had already identified the problem before kick-off, bluntly pointing to the issue facing his forward, stating, “He’s missing the goal.”
Vini offered an equally frank assessment afterwards.
Rather than hide from another frustrating evening, he accepted responsibility on social media: “The goals will come back; I can’t miss that much…”
Two chances, no finish for Vinicius
Vinicius had two particularly clear openings against Elche, but neither produced the finish Real Madrid needed from their star forward.
The first arrived when he found himself one-on-one with the opposition goalkeeper.
Instead of finding the net, Vinicius caught the ball with the tip of his foot and sent his effort wide. Arda Guler was available during the move and called for the ball, but Vini backed himself to finish the chance.
He had another opportunity after the interval, this time following an excellent pass from Guler during a quick Real Madrid transition. Again, though, Vinicius could not find the target.
His evening ended in the 68th minute, with Mourinho deciding the Brazilian was tired and turning his attention towards Sunday’s Atletico Madrid derby.
Mourinho has a bigger decision to make
The numbers show why Vinicius’ finishing has become a talking point. He managed five shots against Elche, but only one was on target and none found the net.
After seven appearances this season, the Brazilian has scored just once, which is a striking return for a player Real Madrid rely upon to provide a major share of their attacking threat.
Ultimately, though, Real Madrid found another route to victory, with Arda Guler, Kylian Mbappe and Carlos Espi providing the goals in the 3-2 comeback.
