Barcelona optimistic about signing Real Madrid target, Florentino Perez eyes €70 million defender to replace Raphael Varane and more Real Madrid transfer news March 20, 2019

Hello and welcome to the Real Madrid transfer roundup of the day! There is no doubt that the Galacticos are currently the most active club in the mill and so without further ado, let’s have a look at what the media says about the greatest club of all time…

Ian McGarry on Hazard

Journalist Ian McGarry believes that Eden Hazard could join the Galacticos in the summer. He revealed that the player was calm regarding his situation even last summer.

The Belgian could have last summer itself but didn’t force the issue like his compatriot Thibaut Courtois did as it would have upset the Blues, McGarry further went on to reveal.

“I’ve been told many times, right from close season last summer, that Hazard was perfectly calm about his situation, that he’s spoken to Chelsea and told them that he didn’t rule out staying at the club,” McGarry said.

“However, if Real Madrid came in for him and they found a way to agree a valuation etc then it was his choice to leave.

“And rather than do it last summer, where he had a period of believing he might move along with [Thibaut] Courtois to Madrid in that window, he decided that that was not something that he wanted to do, it would upset Chelsea too much and he felt at his stage in his career he could wait another year.”

As a result, McGarry thinks that Chelsea are aware that they might have to sell their prized asset this year but the final choice rests on the Belgium captain itself.

“So I’m fairly certain that Chelsea already believe that they will sell Hazard to Real Madrid.

“It’s the player’s choice, he’s been a brilliant servant, probably for more years than maybe he might have stuck around for to be fair.

Gareth Bale won’t leave

Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale might end up staying at Real Madrid, according to journalist Guillem Balague. He believes that the Welshman might not want to leave the club unless he is forced.

“I think Gareth Bale has got no intention of leaving Real Madrid, it’s different if he gets forced out,” he said.

“But right now he just wants to stay - he is not motivated by a challenge somewhere else.”

He then went on to state that the Welshman still has a lot of time left in his contract but even then, Madrid might not get a lot of money due to his problems with injury.

Balague also added that the former Spurs star is on high wages and it is unlikely that he would get similar money at another club but that is not really his motivation to stay at Madrid.

“I think there’s two or three years left on his contract. Quite clearly Real Madrid feel they won’t be able to get £100m for him in this form and with his injuries.

“They would like to get that and I think Bale realises no one will pay the wages he is getting.

“But it’s not about wages I think he just wants to stay at Madrid.”

Vinicius rejected Barca

Real Madrid starlet Vinicius Junior has revealed that he had an offer to join Barcelona before he came to Madrid. The youngster joined the Galacticos last summer and has been a revelation for them this season.

Previous manager Santiago Solari showed immense faith in him and he repaid it with his blazing performances, even though his finishing has been poor. And now, he has revealed that the Catalans actually offered more money for the Brazilian but he decided to join Madrid because of the sporting project and also due to support from Marcelo and Casemiro.

My father never told me of interest until Barcelona and Real Madrid," he said.

"Then we visited both clubs and liked them both.

"Barcelona wanted to pay more, but we wanted the best project and Marcelo and Casemiro spoke to me and helped me decide."

No interest in Mane

Real Madrid have been credited with an interest for Sadio Mane as Zinedine Zidane is reportedly an admirer of the player. However, according to Guillem Balague, the Galacticos have no interest in signing the Liverpool star.

When asked about Mane to Madrid, he simply said “no” before adding that the intention of the Blancos is to buy a striker but don’t have the financial power for it.

He also revealed that the Merengues want to sign a defender and two midfielders. However, Zidane is keen on seeing the progress of the current players over the next few months.

“Their intention is to get a striker, but there’s no money at the moment.”

“They want, as well, a centre-back, a couple of midfielders,” Balague continued.

“But Zidane wants to see who responds to him in the next couple of months.”

De Ligt case

Matthijs De Ligt’s name has been linked with Barcelona and Real Madrid for a while now but it seems as though the Catalans are the favourites to sign him after all. The Dutchman recently won the Golden Boy award for being the best U21 player in the world and was absolutely phenomenal against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.

According to Sport, the Catalans have made an offer worth €60 million for the Dutchman, along with incentives. The report adds that there is an optimistic feeling about the signing, meaning that he may as well be away from Madrid forever.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has decided to take precautions and try to bring De Ligt to the Santiago Bernabeu, according to Corriere Dello Sport, who also add that Juventus have also not given up on him.