Real Madrid under the management of Xabi Alonso are already on their way to Miami and their first match in the silly tournament Club World Cup where big cash prizes are the only motivation to participate. ($1 billion prize pool).
Their opening match is now this weekend at the Hard Rock Stadium against Saudi Arabia’s best club Al-Hilal, a match they win blindfolded. – Xabi Alonso wanted to bring Bayer Leverkusen player Álex Grimaldo, but he did not get a hearing for it from Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez. – Besides, Álex Grimaldo has so many tattoos that he would have been thrown into a prison camp the moment he landed in Miami. – Another one besides. it is always difficult to bring a player to Real Madrid who has had his defining years at Barcelona’s academy.
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It’s not easy, Barcelona still have to adhere to the 1:1 rule from La Liga so you have to be sold to be able to shop. Barcelona’s third summer signing is possible as soon as a sale to the Premier League is completed.
The Spanish left-back has flourished under the leadership of Xabi Alonso, he was a stabilising factor, and at the same time dangerous in the build-up of the attack. – The German press gave the 29-year-old much of the credit for their Bundesliga trophy in the 2023/2024 season, a season that was without a single loss.
Barcelona hope to be busy this summer, but signings are likely to depend on what sales can be completed in the upcoming transfer window. The club’s well-documented financial difficulties mean that players need to be sold first, and a possible transfer could open the door for a new arrival.
If that happens, it will clearly annoy Xabi Alonso, who himself wants to bring his former Bayer Leverkusen player to Real Madrid
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It’s no secret that Barcelona are aiming to sign a new goalkeeper and a left winger. Joan Garcia will be the new first goalkeeper when he arrives from Espanyol, while Luis Díaz is the club’s main target for the attacking position.
Barcelona could sign a new left-back this summer
In addition to these two goals, Sport has now reported that Barcelona have stepped up their efforts to sign a new left-back.
Last week, it was reported that current reserve left-back Gerard Martin could move to the Premier League this summer. The 23-year-old, who made 46 appearances across all competitions last season, first attracted interest from Wolves and is now being chased by AFC Bournemouth.
Barcelona are open to selling Martin, and they hope to receive €12 million for him. If a deal is struck, the plan is to sign a replacement, especially considering that Alex Valle has already been sold to Cesc Fàbregas’ Como.
In case Martin leaves, Barcelona have started considering targets for the left-back position. At this point, the foremost candidate they are considering is former La Masia player Álex Grimaldo. The 29-year-old has been outstanding for Bayer Leverkusen since joining from Benfica two years ago, but with Xabi Alonso in place at Real Madrid, he could be the next player to leave the Bundesliga giant.
Grimaldo reportedly has a buyout clause of €15 million, which would be a bargain for a player of his quality. It remains to be seen whether Barcelona make a serious effort to secure a deal, but for now, it is unlikely to happen unless Martin leaves.
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