Real Madrid are at a decisive stage of their season, and it's not just about what's happening on the pitch.
March and April are a time when negotiations over contract renewals and potential contracts accelerate and important choices are made regarding the club's future. Madrid tend to wait until this point in the season after the round of 16 of the Champions League. This is because we believe that it will be a solid foundation upon which to start moving.
As always, Real Madrid's decisions will be driven by the three most powerful people at the club: president Florentino Pérez, general manager José Ángel Sánchez and chief scout Juni Calafat.
Calafat also keeps an eye on what's going on around the dressing room, but his main responsibilities are monitoring potential signings, writing reports and communicating with transfer targets and their representatives. It's about building close relationships.
The club has always said that this sequence of events is the key to setting the stage for negotiations, and this is where Sanchez comes into the picture. Negotiations regarding transfers and contract renewals are often led by Sanchez, but Perez is kept in the loop and has the final say. Manager Carlo Ancelotti also has little influence, but is usually consulted.
here, The Athletic Here are the main topics discussed this month.
Transfer target
Let's get started Alphonso Davies. as The Athletic It has been revealed that Real Madrid reached a verbal agreement with him in February on two scenarios. The plan is for him to join either this summer or in 2025.
Bayern Munich do not want a repeat of the David Alaba incident and will seek a sale if they are unable to renew the Canadian player's contract, which expires in 2025. The Austrian joined the Santiago Bernabéu in 2021 after leaving Bayern as a free agent.
The most recent meeting between Bayern and Davies' representatives took place on March 12th in Munich.
“We have made a very specific and grateful offer to Alfonso,” Bayern sporting director Max Hebert told Bild this week. “At some point in your life, you have to say yes or no.”
Real Madrid have reached a verbal agreement with Davies for a transfer in 2024 or 2025 (M. Donato/FC Bayern, via Getty Images)
No agreement was reached during those talks, and if no agreement is reached by the end of the season, the two sides are expected to work together to arrange a sale.
This could affect the future of Ferland Mendy, whose contract with Madrid expires in 2025. Ancelotti is happy with him, but the club have been open to him leaving in the past.
Alternatively, the position of reserve left-back Fran Garcia, who has not been satisfied with his first year back at the Bernabéu, may also be affected. The situation will also influence Madrid's decision to sign Girona full-back Miguel Gutierrez. Los Blancos have the advantage of being able to re-sign the 22-year-old academy graduate for 8 million euros (approximately 860 million yen) from July 1, despite a release clause set at 35 million euros. There is a clause. .
Meanwhile, the 18-year-old Lille centre-back is being talked about within (and increasingly outside of) the club. Lenny Yolo — and Calafat is doing his usual job in the players' camp.
Lille's Yoro will play against PSG in February (Franco Arlando/Getty Images)
A factor supporting the player's possible move to Madrid is that his contract expires in 2025, meaning Lille could consider selling him this summer. Another of his main suitors is Paris Saint-Germain, but Lille do not have a good relationship with sporting director Luis Campos.
On the other hand, Yoro's agent is Jorge Mendes, but the relationship between Madrid and Mendes cannot be said to be good. It's not an insurmountable barrier, but it can be a factor.
And Madrid may decide they still have enough depth in the position. Eder Militao and Alaba are set to return from anterior cruciate ligament injuries, Antonio Rudiger is performing at an excellent level, Nacho could still renew his contract until 2025, and Ancelotti has signed Aurelian Cioameni. considers him a good option (even though he prefers to play in midfield). Academy graduate Rafa Marin is also likely to feature next season after returning from his loan spell at Deportivo Alaves.
But of course the biggest name on Madrid's lips is (again) Kylian Mbappe.
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Real Madrid is aware that Mbappé informed PSG on February 13 that he would be leaving the club at the end of this season, when his contract expires. On the same day, Madrid faced RB Leipzig in the Champions League last 16. Board members present at the game took it for granted that Mbappe would be in next year's squad, a view shared by key voices in the dressing room.
But since then, various sources have looked into The Athletic Opinions are divided as to whether Mbappé is already under contract with Real Madrid. One reason for this may be that Faiza Ramali, Mbappe's mother and agent, sought maximum discretion.
“We have to wait until May before we can talk about this,” a source involved in negotiations with Mbappé said recently.
Nothing has changed in how Madrid officials view Mbappé's future. Hopes remain that his move to the Spanish capital will be made official, but there is a further complicating factor that is out of Madrid's hands but will be closely monitored: Mbappe And PSG have not yet finalized the full financial details of his departure. .
When news of Mbappé's decision to leave broke in February, the French club said they would not discuss the matter until an agreement was reached. However, PSG officials explained that they hope Mbappé will respect the understanding that he will be compensated for his departure.
They said this meant the player would have to make more financial concessions than the amount agreed in the summer, when he forfeited around 80 million euros in loyalty bonuses. The club also said they expect Mbappé to receive a portion of the contract fee he would receive from his new team, but everyone at PSG believes it will be Real Madrid.
Contract renewal
The contracts of Madrid's four senior players expire at the end of June.
Lucas Vasquez We are making good progress toward renewal. Although negotiations have not yet taken place, the 32-year-old's performances as a right-back have once again convinced Ancelotti and the board.
The defense also has the following cases: nacho. The club's captain, who has been at Madrid since joining as a youth player in 2001, has publicly said he knows he can renew if he wants, and hinted that an offer from the club is on the table. However, there is currently no such movement. was held.
When Nacho was in a similar position last season, he hesitated until the end of the campaign before ultimately deciding to stay for another year due to concerns about reduced playing time. This season he said he was calm about his future, but his performances on the pitch have declined. For the match against Osasuna on March 16, midfielder Choameni was chosen as the centre-back.
toni kroos It's in a better position.as The Athletic As previously reported, Madrid's board informed him several months ago that he could renew his contract at any time if he wished.
The 34-year-old joined the German squad this month, determined to come out of international retirement in time for this summer's home European Championship.
At all levels of the club they want to extend his contract, but he has not yet decided whether to continue.
Kroos has made 106 appearances for Germany, most recently in 2021 (Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images)
in the case of Luka Modric, 38 years old is different. The Croatian has seen his minutes significantly reduced this season and was upset when he was told his status would not change when his contract was renewed last year.
There is no precedent for Madrid to renew a player at his age, but Modric's recent performances show that his magic is not exhausted and that the Santiago Bernabéu love him.
With that in mind, talks still need to take place between the board and the legendary player who played 521 games for Real Madrid. Manager Ancelotti has offered him to join his coaching staff if he decides to retire, although the club knows he wants to continue playing.
If he does not renew his contract with Real Madrid, another European team or a team in Major League Soccer would be more attractive options for him than Saudi Arabia.
Loan/Purchase Options
With two loan players in the team, completely different results are expected: Kepa Arrizabalaga and Josel.
Arrizabalaga arrived on loan from Chelsea without a buy option after Thibaut Courtois injured his anterior cruciate ligament in August. The goalkeeper was looking to join Bayern Munich on a similar deal, but changed his plans after being contacted by Madrid.
The 29-year-old started the season as Madrid's No. 1, but after missing a few games through injury (and also making a few mistakes), he has now been replaced by Andriy Lunin, who has stepped into the role perfectly. It has become established.
For some time, it was taken for granted by all parties that Arrizabalaga would not continue to play for Madrid next season.
Josel and Arrizabalaga celebrate winning the Supercopa de España in January (Antonio Villalba/Real Madrid, via Getty Images)
on thursday, The Athletic It has been reported that Madrid and Lunin's agent Mendes have begun negotiations to renew the Ukrainian player's contract (currently until 2025).
As for Josel, due to Espanyol's relegation from La Liga last season, he joined on very favorable terms, with a contract that included a buyout option worth approximately 1.5 million euros, a transfer fee of approximately 500,000 euros, and Madrid paying his entire salary. .
Ancelotti is happy with the striker as he offers a unique profile within the squad and his adaptation and performances have also convinced everyone. He is expected to remain in the agency as the case begins to be processed in April.
Regarding the Madrid player on loan, the 21-year-old centre-back marine He was sent to Alaves this term with the plan that if he performed well, he would spend at least pre-season with Ancelotti's side – which he has done. A decision will ultimately be made on whether he stays until the 2024-25 season, but several other clubs are keeping an eye on his interest.
And, like Girona's Gutierrez, there is another player worth noting who could be moved to Madrid on favorable terms: Real Sociedad's 22-year-old winger. Takefusa Kubo.
When the Japanese national team left for the Basque Country in 2022, Madrid included a right of first refusal in the contract. In February, Kubo renewed his contract through 2029, and his previous contract ends in 2027, according to a person briefed on the situation. The Athletic His release clause of 60 million euros remains the same and Los Blancos still have the right of first refusal.
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How are the sales?
Adding to the Mendy and Garcia situation; Dani Ceballos and Alda Guler Worth following. Neither player has been getting as much playing time as they would have liked, with Guler in particular suffering three injuries since signing last summer. He wants to feature more regularly since returning to fitness, so a loan move cannot be ruled out, although no decision will be made in the near future.
If Ceballos were to leave, the 27-year-old midfielder would likely leave on a permanent basis. Guler has played just over 500 minutes so far this season, with Guler playing 98 minutes.
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(Top photo: Getty Images)
