Real Madrid tipped to make shock move for €120m Arsenal star

Gaizka Mendieta reckons Real Madrid will one day look to bring one of the Premier League's best players to the Bernabeu. The Spaniard, who spent years with Los Blancos is a massive fan of Arsenal star whom he suggests put Spanish football on notice.

Trent Alexander-Arnold arrived from Liverpool last summer and Madrid's scouts are continuing to look at the English top-flight. Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton is thought to be on their radar and so too is Marc Guehi who becomes a free agent.

Madrid have continued to stay true to tradition by making one or two Galactico signings each year. The last major arrival was Kylian Mbappe who joined Los Merengues after leaving Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2024.

Mendieta tips Madrid to target Arsenal star

Declan Rice is one of the Premier League's in-form players and is driving Arsenal towards the title. The English midfielder has put in world-class displays, and did so in last season's Champions League quarter-finals against Madrid.

Madridistas won't need reminding of his two David Beckham-like free-kicks which ultimately led to Los Blancos exiting the competition. He is a superstar talent who Mendieta feels could be a name on the club's shortlist in the future.

Mendieta spoke to Boyle Sports (via Metro) about the 26-year-old:

"Declan Rice has a lot of respect in Spain. Especially after what he did against Real Madrid last season in scoring two unbelievable goals.

He added:

For fans who don’t watch the Premier League that was the highlight, but people who watch him every week will see how good he is often. He is in a good place at Arsenal and he will be hoping he can add major honours to his trophy cabinet this season."

Arsenal are leading the Premier League title race and currently hold a five-point lead over second-placed Manchester City. Rice has the chance to win his first major trophy as a Gunners player but in the long run a potential La Liga switch could be a possibility.

Mendieta suggested Madrid might be keeping an eye on him:

"Could we see Declan Rice at Real Madrid? If he ever became available, he is exactly the profile of player they would want. At the moment he is competing in the Premier League and the Champions League with Arsenal so he is going nowhere."

He concluded:

"But if that were to change I think Real Madrid would be looking at him in the market, definitely."

Rice joined Arsenal from West Ham United in the summer of 2023 for €120 million. He has been a mainstay in Mikel Arteta's XI and is one of the best set-piece specilaists in the world, coming up with four goals and five assists in 19 league games this season.

Bellingham was stunned by Rice

Jude Bellingham plays his international football alongside Rice in England's national team who are one of the favorites to win this year's World Cup. The Madrid man watched his compatriot score two stunning free-kicks in last season's Champions League.

He admitted that it took him by surprise although he was aware of his set-piece qualities. He told reporters:

"I knew Declan could take set-pieces well, corners and stuff, but I'd never seen him do that. Fair play to him."

Rice is deadly at corners, finding his man with inch-perfect precision and that's usually Gabriel Magalhaes for Arsenal. Madrid could do with a similar threat although a potential swoop for the Englishman doesn't seem likely to occur in the near future.