The rumor mills are running full throttle as a lot of transfer news surfaces. The clock is ticking. The season is quickly approaching its business end and right afterward the summer transfer window kicks open. Most European clubs are ready with their plans for the summer and Real Madrid, too, seems to have a plan. There are a few problem areas in the squad that does need attention viz. right-wing, right-back, center-back, etc.
These positions require immediate reinforcements and it’s interesting to look at some players from Real Madrid’s rival clubs who could end up being a perfect fit for Los Blancos’ squad. Here are the five players I’d love to have at Real Madrid from Rival Clubs.
5. Athletic Club RW Nico Williams
The first player on this list is from the Lions of the Basque Country. Athletic Club of Bilbao is the only other team alongside the big two of Spanish Football, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, that has never been relegated from the top flight. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Athletic Club was a bigger thorn for Real Madrid in the early days of Spanish Football than any other side.
The two sides met numerous times in the Copa del Rey and every meeting continues to be fiery. This season too, Real Madrid had to face Athletic Club four times. Real Madrid won the first three, two wins in the League, and one win in the finals of the Spanish Supercup. But, Los Leones won the last one and knocked Real Madrid out of the Copa del Rey. El Viejo Clasico or the Old Classic, as the fixture is commonly known is always a mouthwatering one. The rivalry also symbolizes the socio-political struggles of the Basque regions for Independence, similar to the Catalans.
The player I am picking from among the lions is a young talent. The smaller of the Williams brothers, Nico Williams is a great up-and-coming right-winger and could be a great fit for Real Madrid. He has made a habit of impacting big games and that is the sort of mentality Real Madrid is always after. Real Madrid needs reinforcements on the right and is close to signing their target-man Kylian Mbappe. As such a quality backup like Nico Williams could be the player to go after for Real Madrid.
As I said, the 19-year-old is making a habit of influencing big games. He scored two in the Copa del Rey Round of 32 game against Atletico Mancha Real and then scored a worldie to win the semifinals of the Supercup against Atletico Madrid. He also assisted the opener for Iker Muniain in the Copa del Rey Round of 16 game against FC Barcelona. He has also looked promising in his appearances off the bench in LaLiga. He is surely the one Athletic Club player whose transfer to Real Madrid would make the most sense.