Real Madrid offered a chance to sign young Juventus star?

Real Madrid have the world’s best center back duo in Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane, but that hasn’t stopped them from being linked to a young standout who is trying to find his feet in Serie A.

When Juventus signed Matthijs de Ligt from Ajax last summer, they were expecting to receive immediate world-class performances from a player regarded as the best young defender in the world. However, center back is one of the most difficult positions for young players, and de Ligt’s growing pains were a reminder of that.

According to a report from Defensa Central, legendary agent Mino Raiola has offered Real Madrid an opportunity to sign de Ligt after his down year at Juve. Raiola has been quoted as saying he wants to bring a “great” player to Real Madrid in the summer of 2020, with most fans pointing to Paul Pogba and Erling Haaland as potential blockbuster signings among Raiola’s clients.

This link to de Ligt is out of nowhere and seems highly unlikely. The report mentions that Los Blancos are looking for a long-term replacement for Ramos next to Varane, since Ramos might only have a couple of more years left of starting-quality football. I wouldn’t bet against Ramos playing at a high level for longer than that, but Real do have to think about the future.

Still, Los Blancos purchased Eder Militao for 50 million euros from FC Porto last summer, and despite transfer rumors around Militao, it’s hard to see Real selling a player who looked excellent in his first season at the Santiago Bernabeu. Militao has a bright future ahead of him.

So does de Ligt, and it would be unwise for Juventus to give up on the talented Dutch defender, who has all the physical traits and leadership qualities to be a special player. Prior to his injury, Merih Demiral was the actual young superstar defender for Juve, but given the 75 million euros they paid for de Ligt, it’s hard to see Juve moving on from such a long-term investment.

Real Madrid could sign another center back this summer, but their priorities are in the attack. Their defense was Europe’s best last season, and they need to save their money on goals. They can work with Varane, Ramos, and Militao for at least one more year.