Real Madrid News
Real Madrid were initially planning to buy then-Barcelona target instead of Eder Militao
A recent report from MARCA has offered key insights into Juni Calafat’s time at Real Madrid, as the chief scout of the club.
The 49-year-old is considered one of three main figureheads at Real Madrid, along with Florentino Perez and Jose Angel Sanchez. He is the brains behind the club’s operation to sign talents such as Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo.
Although Calafat has no footballing background, he has a great deal of influence in Brazilian football. He is also very persistent and more often than not, manages to convince the other Real Madrid bosses of his transfer choices.
One such instance saw him convince Real Madrid to buy Eder Militao in 2019 even though the other authority within the club had preferred the signing of Matthijs de Ligt.
The Dutchman was a hot prospect in the transfer market at the time, especially after an excellent campaign with Ajax, where he had helped the club reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
But thanks to Juni Calafat’s influence, Real Madrid ended up signing Militao, which has proven to be a wise choice for the club.
While Militao did initially endure a slow start to his career at Santiago Bernabeu, the Brazilian has grown by stature in recent years. He is now considered the main defensive lynchpin in the team, having already featured in almost 100 matches for Los Blancos.
Militao’s performances have improved significantly as well, with the Brazilian showcasing exceptional leadership, experience and ability to read the game. These qualities have helped him build a formidable partnership with David Alaba, ultimately making Real Madrid one of the most defensively astute teams in La Liga.
Hence, the reigning Spanish champions only have Juni Calafat to thank for their pursuit of Militao. As for de Ligt, the Dutchman has not quite managed to live up to the expectations and is currently plying his trade for Bayern Munich, hoping to speed up his progress under Julian Nagelsmann.
Harry Kane has once again become the centre of attention ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window.
With the forward having just 12 months remaining on his current contract at Tottenham, many expect him to leave the club at the end of the season. His situation has alerted Real Madrid, who were in contention to sign the player last summer.
However, Real Madrid are not the only club interested in the services of Kane, with the Englishman also being courted by Bayern Munich. The German giants are in the market for a top-class forward after being almost beaten by Dortmund for the Bundesliga title this term.
But according to Christian Falk, Harry Kane has decided to reject a move to Bayern Munich this summer. This is a significant boost for Real Madrid, as they continue to harbour hopes of signing the Englishman next season.
Amid growing fears over Karim Benzema’s continuity at Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid have had to step up their efforts to sign a new striker ahead of the new season.
The Spanish giants have been linked with a move for Roberto Firmino lately, with the Liverpool striker set to become a free transfer in the coming summer. But a proven superstar such as Kane could be a much better option for a club like Real Madrid.
With 280 goals in 435 matches for Tottenham, Kane has an excellent track record at the highest level of football and can help Real Madrid once again fight for the Champions League title next season while challenging Barcelona for the league crown.
But on the flip side, Real Madrid could think about the future, especially as they look to sign either Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland in 2024. Splashing the cash on Kane this summer, therefore, could complicate matters, as far as the club are concerned.
