Manchester United have failed to take a step in the right direction this season after what was a promising debut campaign under the management of Erik ten Hag last time around. It is quite clear that they need to strengthen this squad further. And they have been linked with a former Real Madrid player in recent times.
Of course, they have two former Real Madrid players in their ranks already in the form of Casemiro and Raphael Varane. As reported by The Sun in early January, Manchester United were closely tracking Girona’s Miguel Gutierrez.
Gutierrez came through the youth ranks at Real Madrid and made some appearances for the senior team as well. He did leave in the summer of 2022 to join Girona.
There, he has established himself as arguably the best left-back in La Liga. That seems to be drawing the interest of clubs from around Europe. But could a return to Real Madrid be on the cards for Gutierrez?
€40 million Manchester United target eyes Real Madrid return
As tweeted by Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid can bring Gutierrez back for €8 million in June 2024. He wants to wait for them.
There is believed to be a €40 million release clause in Gutierrez's contract at Girona. But Real Madrid do retain a 50% sell-on clause as well as the option to sign him back for a €8 million fee.
Of course, Real Madrid are no strangers to bringing back their former players, if they manage to prove themselves elsewhere. Just last summer, they signed Fran Garcia from Rayo Vallecano.
Dani Carvajal would be the perfect example as well. He was brought back after an impressive spell at Bayer Leverkusen and has gone on to have a legendary career at Santiago Bernabeu. He remains the starting right-back more than a decade later.