Real Madrid have reportedly been offered a chance to sign former Barcelona midfielder Ilaix Moriba n loan by German giants RB Leipzig in January.
According to a report from El Nacional, Real Madrid have been handed an opportunity to secure the signing of RB Leipzig midfield prospect Ilaix Moriba on loan in the January transfer window.
Moriba came through the youth ranks at Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy and made his first-team breakthrough in January earlier this year under then-manager Ronald Koeman. The young midfielder enjoyed a decent run in the side in the second half of the 2021/22 campaign, going on to make 18 appearances, scoring one goal and assisting three more.
Despite being held in the highest regard at Camp Nou, Moriba ended up leaving Barcelona in the summer after talks over a new contract failed. The 18-year-old was on the radars of several top clubs across Europe during the transfer window earlier this year, including Real Madrid, but opted to sign for RB Leipzig in a deal worth €16 million.
However, the move has not worked out as planned for the teenage prodigy. Indeed, five months into his spell in Germany, Moriba has made just six appearances in all competitions for Leipzig, racking up a total of 100 minutes of on-field action. Unhappy with his progress and development, RB Leipzig are ready to send him out on loan for the rest of the season.
To that end, the Saxony-based outfit are offering the 18-year-old to clubs across Europe, with Real Madrid also being given the opportunity to sign him on loan for the rest of the season. And the report adds that Los Blancos president Florentino Perez is considering the possibility of making a move, despite the depth in the midfield department at the club.
Indeed, Carlo Ancelotti has Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Casemiro as his first-choice midfielder while Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, Isco, Dani Ceballos are all options at the manager’s disposal, along with youngster Antonio Blanco.
However, among these, Ceballos is expected to leave the club, with a move to Real Betis being touted, while Blanco is also likely to be on his way out, albeit on a loan deal. Plus, Isco is out of favour and has hardly been used by Ancelotti in recent months. Despite that, there is enough depth in the squad as things stand.
So, signing Moriba on loan for the rest of the campaign would be an imprudent move, even though he has been on the club’s radars since summer. Real Madrid will likely look to bring in a new midfielder next summer as a long-term replacement for Modric, but as things stand, a January move for Moriba seems like a distant possibility.
