As is often the case, Real Madrid is interested in young French talents likely to be recruited.
Real Madrid had initially planned to sign a central defender in 2025, as Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba reached their 30s, but the current defensive crisis appears to have pushed forward those plans. According to Marca, Los Blancos have followed up on pre-Christmas interest in Lille defender Leny Yoro. The 18-year-old has quickly become one of the rising stars of French football, part of a formidable group of central defenders. Real inquired about his availability for a transfer in 2024.
Yoro will not be easy to recruit, with Paris Saint-Germain also keenly interested in the teenager, who has made four appearances for the France Under-21 team. With Yoro’s contract expiring in 2025, Real Madrid are hoping they can make a move before an extension is signed, which would bring the price down.
Real are waiting for the right moment for Yoro
The reason for this acceleration is the succession of injuries suffered this season. Eder Militao and David Alaba will both spend 2024 recovering from torn anterior cruciate ligaments, while Nacho Fernandez is not only struggling but has just celebrated his 34th birthday.
Antonio Rudiger has been a rock in defense for Carlo Ancelotti this season, but with him also approaching 30, he probably plays more often than the Italian would like, as the member of Real Madrid’s squad with the most large number of minutes to his credit.
Previous reports suggested that Ancelotti was frustrated that Real Madrid had failed to heed his request for cover in defense, either in the summer or winter transfer window, but it appears that the Merengue leaders are working in this direction this summer. After Alaba’s injury, players like Antonio Silva and Goncalo Inacio, at Benfica and Sporting CP respectively, were mentioned as potential options, but given the Frenchman’s contract situation, he could be the cheapest of the lot .
