Real Madrid are going hard after Bayern Munich superstar Michael Olise, and after the 2026 World Cup, there is suddenly real optimism that Real will have the opening to be able to sign one of the world's best players to complete the attack.
The last time Real had an attacking trident in which each of the players was one of the world's best, they won four Champions League titles in five years - and were agonizingly close to the fifth one in between.
Olise had a strong World Cup up until the semifinals for France, and even though Bayern Muncih are quoting a price tag of well over 200 million euros for the second best right winger in the world behind only Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, Real Madrid are not scared off in the slightest.
Vinicius Junior fans, look away
COPE insider Arancha Rodriguez, via Madrid Xtra, is reporting a more sobering reality to the chase, though, because Real Madrid acknowledge that three big things need to happen in order for them to go after Kylian Mbappe's France national teammate.
Arancha says that, obviously, Olise needs to officially ask Bayern Munich to leave this summer transfer window. Then, Bayern need to accept selling him this summer, too. And finally, the most painful revelation of them all is that Real Madrid will have to sell one of their big stars in order to bring in Olise.
Real Madrid fans have heard this refrain that the club needs to sell in order to buy stars, as that was the case in the midfield before Real ultimately decided not to sign Enzo Fernandez or anyone else, giving Aurelien Tchouameni a contract extension through the 2030/31 campaign.
Now, Real Madrid fans are hearing the same about Michael Olise, which is worrisome because if the big star means a big attacking star, then obviously Vinicius Junior becomes the odd man out - and not Kylian Mbappe.
Vincius is the one with a year left on his contract, and Mbappe has been not so subtly using El Chiringuito and the media to push out someone he seems to view as more a competitor in the left half space than the friend that Vinicius clearly sees him as.
Olise and Mbappe are very close with the French national team, and Arancha Rodriguez is basically implying that aside from the obvious of Olise asking out and Bayern accepting a bid, Real have to sell a big player to buy him.
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