Real Madrid are reportedly interested in signing Matthijs de Ligt, who has a €150 million release clause in his deal with Juventus.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Real Madrid have turned their attention towards Matthijs de Ligt in their bid to bolster the heart of their defence. The 22-year-old has a €150 million release clause in his contract with Juventus, although Los Blancos will aim to bring the valuation down by offering a part-exchange deal for him.
Matthijs de Ligt has long been regarded as one of the most promising young defenders in the world. The Dutch international first burst into the limelight when he made his first-team debut for Ajax, aged just 17. His stock then skyrocketed when he was appointed as the club captain by the Dutch giants while he was still in his teens.
During his time with Ajax, de Ligt became a highly sought-after commodity in the transfer market before Juventus eventually prevailed in his pursuit in the summer of 2019. However, his ongoing stint with the Serie A giants has not been a resounding success so far, with the 22-year-old blowing hot and cold.
To date, de Ligt has made 84 appearances for the Bianconeri, chipping in with six goals and two assists along the way. As per recent reports, though, the Dutch defender is unhappy with his situation at Juventus and might seek a summer exit from the Allianz Stadium. This has alerted Real Madrid.
The Spanish giants are keen on making amends after choosing not to sign as many replacements for Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane in the summer. Instead, David Alaba was the only defensive reinforcement, with Nacho getting a bigger role in the first-team setup at Real Madrid.
Such a decision has backfired a little, with Real Madrid having a soft underbelly as far as their defence is concerned. As a result, they are now eager to enter the market for a centre-back, with Wesley Fofana and Jules Kounde among those who have been linked with them. The Merengues, though, are instead prioritising a move for de Ligt now.
The €150 million release clause he has in his deal with the Serie A heavyweights could prove to be a major stumbling block in Los Blancos’ pursuit of the 22-year-old, as per Fichajes. However, Real Madrid believe they have a trick up their sleeves as they will look to offer a part-exchange deal to bring the price tag down.
Real Madrid, though, are unlikely to be alone in pursuit of de Ligt, with recent reports suggesting that Chelsea and Manchester City are among the clubs battling for his services as well. What now remains to be seen is if Real Madrid indeed firm up their interest in de Ligt and whether they can bring his €150 million valuation down.
