Real Madrid watching two POTY winners as striker options
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti would like the team to invest in a striker this summer. Los Blancos have been wanting to offload Mariano Diaz for years now, and Luka Jovic could also go out the door in this transfer window. Jovic was not trusted at all by Carletto, as he does not fit Madrid stylistically as a more stagnant player; Carlo even favored false nines and Mariano to the former 60 million euro transfer.
So who could Real Madrid go after this summer? They will not spend for the sake of spending money, but after Kylian Mbappe decided to stay in Paris, they have the funds and the willingness to make big moves. That big attacking signing is expected to come on the right wing, but it sounds like Real are also watching some pretty big names up top.
Real Madrid want Rafael Leao or Christopher Nkunku?
According to a report from Tomas Gonzalez-Martin of El Debate, Real Madrid are interested in both Christopher Nkunku and Rafael Leao. That is not in itself interesting, because it is not new information. Nkunku and Leao have been linked to Real before and are two of the world’s best players.
Leao helped lead Milan to the Scudetto as Serie A’s MVP, while Nkunku was the Bundesliga’s Player of the Year for his role in leading RB Leipzig to its first-ever trophy, the DFB Pokal, and a top-four finish after a nightmare start to the season.
What is interesting about Gonzalez-Martin’s report, though, is that he states the club is looking at both options as a striker.
Nkunku and Leao can both play striker, and Nkunku’s breakout season as an under-the-radar Ballon d’Or candidate has actually occurred as a 9. He can play pretty much anywhere and is one of the most versatile star players in Europe.
As for Leao, Madridistas have been worried about the price tag and fit, given they already have three players who are right-footed, left-sided wingers. But as a striker? Leao could be an option.
Neither of these players are backups, though. Karim Benzema is THE best player in the world and is not sitting on the bench. Nkunku and Leao would have to be willing to play other positions and rotate until Benz retires, just like Erling Haaland.
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Now that is a possibility, but it is not a plausibility, especially given the transfer fees both young stars are expected to command. At the very least, though, Nkunku and Leao are names to know beyond 2022.