Real Madrid News
Real Madrid turned down Man City star in January, could change stance in the summer
Joao Cancelo’s loan move to Bayern Munich was one of the most notable transfers of the January transfer window.
Following a reported falling out at Manchester City, the defender left Etihad in favour of a loan move to Allianz Arena until the end of the season. Reports earlier this year claimed that Cancelo was batting for a move to Barcelona, but a move did not materialize.
However, according to Deportes Cuatro, Barcelona were not Cancelo’s only choice. It appears the right-back was holding out for a move to Real Madrid as well.
The Portuguese international had even waited for Real Madrid’s stance on the move. But the reigning Spanish champions eventually chose not to sign him, amid worries over their economic condition.
Reports earlier in the year claimed Carlo Ancelotti was a fan of Cancelo. But Real Madrid had no intention to signing a new right-back, despite the injury woes of Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez.
The right-back issue has indeed been a point of contention at Santiago Bernabeu, with many believing that the club require a new investment in the position – someone who can replace Carvajal in the long run.
The report, though, suggests there is a possibility of Real Madrid contemplating a move for Cancelo in the summer, refuting earlier speculation which claimed that the Spanish giants have no intention to invest in a right-back at the end of the season.
It is fair to point out that Cancelo’s loan spell at Bayern has not started on a positive note. After making an impression in the first couple of matches, the Portuguese international has fallen out of favour under Julian Nagelsmann, having struggled to carve out a name for himself in the first team.
For Bayern to sign him permanently, they would have to shell out a massive sum of €70 million. And the player wants to feature regularly, which has not been the case of late.
All of this could eventually lead to the defender’s departure from Allianz Arena at the end of the season, thus paving the way for Real Madrid to make an approach.
It is astounding that despite being the biggest club in Spain, Real Madrid do not have many Spanish players to show for it.
Los Blancos do indeed boast of a special diversity in the dressing room, but their lack of locally trained players could pose problems according to MARCA.
The Spanish outlet confirms that UEFA does not mandate the inclusion of any minimum number of locally grown players for a club. However, the Spanish federation stipulates that a club in Spain must boast of at least eight players who meet a specific set of conditions.
Of the aforementioned eight candidates, there must be at least four players who have spent three seasons or 36 months at the club between the ages of 15 and 21.
Currently, only Nacho Fernandez, Dani Carvajal, Lucas Vazquez, Federico Valverde, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Mariano make up the required number on that front.
The problem, however, arises with the condition for the other four players in the list of eight. RFEF stipulates that the second set of four players must have completed at least 36 months in teams attached to the federation of Spain between the ages of 15 and 21.
Only Jesus Vallejo, Alvaro Odriozola, Marco Asensio and Dani Ceballos tick the aforementioned box. However, all four players have uncertain futures at the club and are well-placed to depart in the summer.
There are thus big decisions to be taken over the transfer strategy for June. Real Madrid can work ways to ship all four players out, it would require the re-integration of players like Sergio Arribas, Miguel Gutierrez or Fran Garcia to ensure the fulfilment of the criteria.
With both Vallejo and Odriozola seemingly frozen out of Ancelotti’s plans, their departures from Santiago Bernabeu appear inevitable. Thus, the management could be forced to renew one of Asensio or Ceballos come June.
