Real Madrid right to reject Chelsea player close to joining Barcelona
Real Madrid will be buyers in the summer 2022 transfer market, with Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland at the top of the wishlist but not the only targets eyed by president Florentino Perez. The man in charge of Madrid knows that while the two Galacticos in question are game-changers, the club needs reinforcements in defense and midfield if they are to return to their place at the top of European football.
Los Blancos did not have an active winter transfer window on the buying or selling front, but they could have signed one player. A center back from Chelsea, in fact. But not free agent Antonio Rudiger, who has fallen by the wayside as a potential target.
According to a report from Luis F. Rojo of MARCA, Chelsea offered Real Madrid the chance to sign Andreas Christensen, who is expected to leave London as a free agent amidst interest from big clubs around Europe. Los Blancos probably could have signed him at a cut rate, but they opted not to add the 25-year-old central defender in the winter.
Now, Barcelona are pushing hard for Christensen, with manager Xavi said to be very interested in the center back approaching his prime. La Blaugrana have been hot on the trail of bargain buys, especially free agents. After loading up on forwards, Barça know they need to get serious about boosting their defense. Christensen fits as a target. Bayern Munich have been linked, but it appears that Christensen is Real’s rivals to lose.
Real Madrid can afford to be patient at CB in 2022
Should Los Merengues feel bad about potentially missing out on a player to their most hated rivals? Not really. Christensen is having a good season at Chelsea and is starting to break out as he reaches his best years in central defense, but he is not as good as Rudiger. Moreover, why pay for a player when he is going to become free anyway?
Center back is not a priority for Real Madrid right now. Ideally, they would sign someone to replace Jesus Vallejo and usurp Nacho Fernandez as the main third center back, but it makes more sense to keep their options open. With all due respect to Christensen, Real Madrid should probably wait until they find a slam-dunk option at center back. After all, they have a couple of very talented Castilla prospects who can fit the bill as backups, so there is no need to sign a player unless they are 100 percent sure.
Next. Stars and flops from February. dark
Want your voice heard? Join the The Real Champs team!
When it comes to free agents, German center backs Matthias Ginter and Rudiger are the top two options, followed by Christensen.