It is safe to say that Real Madrid have a lack of options at striker right now. That has been pretty much exposed while Karim Benzema has been out injured. Instead of playing Mariano Diaz, who is the only other recognised striker in the squad, Carlo Ancelotti has relied on the likes of Eden Hazard and Rodrygo to play a false nine role instead, although they are natural wingers.
Of course, Benzema is a fantastic striker. But at 34 years of age, one cannot rely on him to deliver the goods week after week. Even before his injury, he was struggling for form this season.
Despite the clear lack of depth though, one would not expect Real Madrid to go for Fernando Llorente. Los Blancos have been linked with the Spanish striker several times through the course of his career but the move has just never happened.
Llorente has even admitted that he would have wanted to play for Real Madrid. As reported by AS, he said in an interview with El Larguero:
"“Whenever Real Madrid wanted me, I was under contract at Athletic and they didn’t want to pay my release clause. When my contract ended, Juve were quicker. I would have liked to play for Real Madrid, of course.”"
Llorente would further go on to add:
"“I would go for free tomorrow, of course, of course.”"
The Spanish striker would be ready to join Real Madrid for free
Llorente is 37 years of age now and it would be safe to say that his chances of getting a move to Real Madrid are pretty much over.
He did go on to have a great career though. He was one of the best strikers in La Liga for a while when representing Athletic Bilbao and would go on to play for top clubs like Juventus, Tottenham Hotspur, Sevilla and Napoli as well.
His last spell came at Eibar and at the moment, Llorente finds himself without a club and is a free agent.
Real Madrid might be in need of another striker at the moment but a move for a 37-year-old Llorente would not be a solution to their problems.