Real Madrid News
Real Madrid veteran defender wanted by two Premier League clubs – report
Real Madrid are in a tricky situation with regard to the future of long-time defender Nacho Fernandez. The 32-year-old, a club academy man, has entered the final year of his contract with Los Blancos and is yet to sign an extension.
While the reigning champions of Spain and Europe are believed to have already tabled a contract offer for the veteran star, he has stalled negotiations as he is unhappy with his role in the squad.
Indeed, Nacho has found game-time hard to come by this season as he is behind Eder Militao, David Alaba and summer signing Antonio Rudiger in the pecking order under Carlo Ancelotti.
The lack of minutes have led to concerns within the player who has thus stopped talks over an extension at this point.
Alerted by this, as reported by Mundo Deportivo, two Premier League clubs – Aston Villa and Wolves – have shown an interest in signing Nacho.
Both Premier League sides have appointed new managers in recent times, with Villa handing over the reins to Unai Emery and Wolves’ naming Julen Lopetegui as the boss.
Emery knows Nacho well from his time as a manager in Spain and is said to be an admirer. Meanwhile, Lopetegui has worked with the 32-year-old during his spell in charge with Real Madrid and the Spanish national team.
Both managers are said to be keen on signing Nacho and are closely watching his developing situation at Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, as iterated earlier, the Merengues want to see the 32-year-old remain at the club and have put forth a one-year extension offer. However, in case he chooses to move on, the La Liga champions will not stand in his way.
The ball is in Nacho’s court now as he assesses his options and decides whether to renew, or remain at Real Madrid until the summer and leave as a free agent, or seek an exit in January itself.
Arda Guler’s Real Madrid stint has not gotten off to the start he would have hoped to have given the expectation that preceded the transfer.
Having joined in the summer after Real Madrid outbid their competition to win him over from Fenerbahce for a 20-million-euro fee, buzz was high as the winger was expected to slot into the team quite seamlessly, albeit on a rotational basis.
Unfortunately for the 18-year-old, he has been constantly marred by injuries since completing the move.
Reports have stated that after Guler picked up his third injury since his move, Real Madrid have been concerned and want to take things slow with the player to ensure he is fit as soon as possible after an injury to his quadriceps this time.
The Turk is yet to make his competitive debut for the club, and Real Madrid even sacked their medical chief in November, in light of their injury crises since the beginning of the season.
No loan deal for Guler
However, according to Fabrizio Romano in a recent YouTube video, he states that Madrid maintain full trust and patience in the youngster.
Despite his bad luck with injuries, the latest of which he is scheduled to return from after Christmas, the Galacticos have no intention of loaning out Guler to Turkish clubs despite lots of speculation of them doing so of late.
Romano states that Madrid remain firm on not shaking things up too much with the squad, and they want to keep their roster stable, including Arda Guler.
They want to extend their full support and protection to the player as he aims to return to full fitness and finally make his bow for Madrid either by the end of this month or in 2024.
