One of Real Madrid's main priorities over the last few summers has been to reinforce the squad with players beyond the starting lineup. That includes bringing in squad players to provide depth, which has been a major issue in the past.
Ignoring Madrid's starters who have been signed, the likes of Franco Mastantuono, Endrick, Brahim Diaz, Joselu, and Fran Garcia among others who have all been brought in to help deepen the squad as the seasons continue to get longer and longer.
And when it comes to adding reinforcements, the club is already planning to add a number of players to the defense this summer, as David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger, Fran Garcia, Ferland Mendy, and Dani Carvajal all look set to depart, leaving the backline very thin. The club has been drawing up a list of targets for when the summer transfer window rolls around, and they've just added yet another name to their list.
Real Madrid now eyeing ex-Chelsea star for defensive rebuild
Madrid Universal reports that Real Madrid believe the biggest problem with the squad is the lack of competitiveness in the squad specifically in the defense. As a result, the club is looking to bring in players for depth, with Villarreal's Renato Veiga the latest to be added to the wishlist.
The Portuguese, who previously made 18 appearances at Chelsea, joined Villarreal this past summer in a €25 million deal. He's made 28 appearances for the Yellow Submarines this season across La Liga, the Champions League, and the Copa del Rey, and is a regular starter almost every matchday.
Only 22 years old, Veiga is still a pretty raw talent, and while he isn't yet at the level to be a regular starter for a club the size of Madrid, he still has plenty of potential and could be a solid addition to the squad. While he would be a solid backup addition to the squad, he may not be exactly what Los Blancos need right now regarding a starting defensive option.
While the club believes they need competitiveness in the backline, that shouldn't be the number one priority; they need to sort out the starters first, and Veiga wouldn't be a starter should the club opt to sign him. The club first needs to consider options like Nico Schlotterbeck, Alessandro Bastoni, and Ibrahima Konate to solidify the backline before looking at backup players to add to the squad who won't be playing nearly as much.