Real Madrid News
Real Madrid uninterested in renewing forward despite his willingness to reduce salary
Real Madrid are gearing up for a summer of change in 2023. With multiple players set to run down their contracts at the end of the season, the club have their task cut out in their bid to keep hold of those stars.
However, not every one of them will be retained, with players such as Mariano Diaz and Dani Ceballos looking at an uncertain future at Santiago Bernabeu.
A recent report from ABC Deportes (h/t Madrid Xtra) has offered an update on the future of Diaz. The forward, whose current contract at the Bernabeu expires at the end of the season, has fallen out of favour under Carlo Ancelotti, with very little role in the first team.
Diaz has indeed featured in a total of just 20 minutes of league football this term even though Real Madrid had gotten rid of Luka Jovic in the summer. He has fallen behind the likes of Karim Benzema, Rodrygo, and Marco Asensio in the pecking order.
The report suggests Diaz is looking for a contract extension with Real Madrid despite his apparent struggles. It appears the forward’s agents have tried multiple times in the past to convince Los Blancos to hand him a renewal.
The player is even willing to take up a significant salary cut in his bid to remain at Santiago Bernabeu and fight for his place in the Real Madrid setup.
However, the club have been swift in turning back those attempts. They are clear about their intention of not renewing the contract of Diaz, who might be even available for sale in the upcoming January transfer window.
With his contract expiring in the summer, this will be an excellent opportunity for Real Madrid to cash in on Diaz and generate some amount of revenue.
Manchester City have now joined the ever-growing list of admirers for Celta Vigo midfielder and Real Madrid target Gabri Veiga, reports Jack Gaughan of the Daily Mail.
The 20-year-old midfielder has emerged as one of the breakout stars of La Liga this season, having impressed with his goalscoring abilities from the centre of the park. Indeed, the youngster has notched up nine goals in La Liga and his exploits have made the giants of Europe sit up and take notice.
Real Madrid are said to be interested in Veiga’s services heading into the summer. The Merengues have Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, and Dani Ceballos on expiring contracts and it is unlikely that all three will be renewed, especially with Jude Bellingham being on the agenda.
In case of Modric and Kroos, even if they stay, it will likely be for only a season at the most. Hence, Los Blancos could require more than one central midfielder come summer, with Veiga emerging as an option.
The 20-year-old was also attracting interest from the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Atletico Madrid. Now, Manchester City have also jumped on the bandwagon of clubs interested in Veiga’s services.
The Cityzens, who are battling Real Madrid for Bellingham as well, are set to lose Ilkay Gundogan in the summer when his contract expires. Meanwhile, Bernardo Silva’s future is also far from certain, thus necessitating the signing of another midfielder.
Veiga has a release clause worth €40 million in his contract with Celta Vigo, which should not be a problem for either Real Madrid or Manchester City.
Celta Vigo president Carlos Mourino recently admitted that the midfielder could leave the club in the summer, saying:
“We don’t want to sell Gabri Veiga, but they are going to buy him from us. And we can’t do anything there. We know some of his offers and it is impossible to reach them.
“There are several teams behind Gabri. Real Madrid? They haven’t asked us, we don’t know if they will have called the player. Of the top 10 in the Premier League, four have asked about him.”
It will certainly be interesting to see whether Real Madrid are prepared to go all out for Veiga’s signing or decide to entirely focus on their pursuit of Bellingham.
