Real Madrid attacking midfielder Cesar Gelabert is on an expiring contract in 2021 and is reportedly receiving close interest from rivals FC Barcelona.
Known as one of the top prospects at Castilla, Cesar Gelabert has been receiving interest from clubs around Europe who are noticing that the player will have only one more year left on his contract when the 2019-2020 season officially ends. And it’s unclear if Real Madrid will be able to keep him.
Gelabert has already received interest from Lyon, Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, and Borussia Dortmund. Lyon are known for their ability to develop young talent, and Los Blancos have eyes on their top prospect Rayan Cherki. Meanwhile, BVB could target Gelabert as a replacement for Jadon Sancho, who is destined for a move worth more than 100 million euros this summer.
However, those three noteworthy clubs aren’t the only big teams monitoring Gelabert. According to a report from Eduardo Cornago of AS, Manchester United and bitter rivals FC Barcelona also have interest in Gelabert.
Barça’s interest is the most interesting, because they previously tried to sign Gelabert five years ago before he ultimately decided to join Real Madrid. They have continued to track the player, and the report mentions that Barcelona view Gelabert as one of the best players in Castilla. Judging by the interest he’s receiving from Dortmund and United, it’s safe to say they aren’t the only ones.
Real Zaragoza and Real Valladolid are two clubs in Spain with reported interest in Gelabert, and Valladolid could be a particularly interesting link due to Ronaldo’s presence at the club.
It will be interesting to see if Real Madrid make any headway in re-signing Gelabert. A 19-year-old attacking midfielder with the versatility to play on the left or right as well, Gelabert could be an asset for Real in the future.
But with Real loading up on so many prospects, including Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo as standout teenagers on either wing, and with Martin Odegaard looking like a superstar at the No. 10 position, Gelabert could see his options elsewhere. It’s a situation worth keeping an eye on, especially with Barcelona now rumored to be in the mix.