Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal injured, Real Madrid must deal with Federico Valverde at right back. If the Uruguayan manages to perform well in this position, it is a stain for Casa Blanca, especially when at the same time a youngster from the training center crushes everything on the England side. Like Nico Paz who shines brightly in Italy with Como, Alex Jiménez (20 years old) is doing the same thing in the Premier League with Bournemouth. Yet arriving at Real Madrid at the age of 7 in 2012, the man who started as an attacker slowly moved back to become a right-back. Still a member of Castilla in the summer of 2023 where he flourished under the orders of Raul Gonzalez, he saw AC Milan come to him to attract him on loan.
Leaving Spain temporarily, Alex Jiménez did not see his progress slow down, quite the contrary. Excellent with the Primavera of the Milan club, he was able to play 5 matches with the first team and thus do well in the game. Enough for AC Milan to decide to pay 5 million euros in the summer of 2024 to permanently recruit him by lifting the purchase option included in his loan. Real Madrid had nevertheless been conscientious in installing a buyout clause as part of this transfer. Substitute in the first part of the season, he became essential in December and finished as a starter under the orders of Sergio Conçeiçao (28 appearances, 2 assists) despite competition from Kyle Walker. However, this summer, he left Italy on loan to Bournemouth following the arrival of Massimiliano Allegri on the Milan bench.
Real Madrid will only recover 7.5 million euros in this sale
Perhaps cooled by the management of young players by the Italian coach, he was in any case won over by the speech of his compatriot Andoni Iraola on the Cherries bench. The latter, who also allowed players like Milos Kerkez (Liverpool), Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid) and Illya Zabarnyi (Paris Saint-Germain) to explode and reach a top club this summer, was perfectly able to integrate Alex Jiménez into his plans. Already playing 20 matches for 1 goal and 1 assist under his new colors, Alex Jiménez is one of the great revelations of the Premier League this season. The Spanish U21 international is even in the sights of coach Luis de la Fuente for the 2026 World Cup and he will have his card to play while his main competitors are Dani Carvajal, Pedro Porro and Marcos Llorente.
Having a promising new element asserting itself is good news for the Spanish selection less so for Real Madrid. Indeed, The Athletic revealed that Bournemouth only had to field him in two matches where he will have to play 45 minutes for the English club to activate the clause of 19.5 million euros included in his contract. Of the 20 matches he has taken part in with the Cherries, he has played at least 45 minutes in 16 matches and he needs to reach the figure of 18 by the end of the season, something easily achievable. While his market value has exploded and gone from 100,000 euros to 18 million euros in two years on Transfermarkt, Alex Jiménez is initially expected to stay at Bournemouth. A selling club, the Cherries could be tempted by a big sale during the next transfer windows.
This clause is a blessing for Bournemouth, less so for Real Madrid. The Merengues will certainly make a great financial transaction. After the 5 million euros obtained during the player’s transfer to AC Milan, they will obtain 50% of the added value of the transfer to Bournemouth. Thus, AC Milan will receive the first 5 million euros while the remaining 14.5 million euros will be shared between the two clubs. Which would make a total profit of €12.25 million for the Merengues with the transfer of a player who has never played for them. However, this definitive departure to Bournemouth also means that the Casa Blanca buyout clause disappears and that the Cherries will be completely free on the economic rights of Alex Jiménez. The English club will be the big winner of the operation while the Madrilenians, despite financial compensation, will not be able to make a big sale or even count on an excellent member from the training.
