Real Madrid are reportedly weighing up the possibility of signing Rodrgio Caio from Sao Paulo before the transfer window slams shut.
According to a report in Spanish publication Don Balon, Real Madrid have set their sights on Rodrigo Caio, who is currently plying his trade for boyhood club Sao Paulo. Los Blancos are considering a possible move for the Brazilian defender before the transfer window ends.
Caio progressed through the ranks at Sao Paulo before breaking into the first-team setup at the club in 2011. Since then, the player has gone from strength to strength, establishing himself as one of the pillars of the Brazilian side’s defence.
The 23-year-old has amassed more than 150 appearances for Sao Paulo in the last six years, impressing with his versatility and aerial prowess. His promising development has seen Caio attract interest from several suitors in recent years.
?? Rodrigo Caio is one of the names in the newest Brazil squad! He’s going to play against Ecuador and Colombia! #WorldCupQualifiers ? pic.twitter.com/wK99ifpKrN
— São Paulo FC (@SaoPauloFC_eng) August 10, 2017
And the player was also being linked with a move to Valencia in 2015 before a failed medical scuppered the deal. Two years later though, he could finally be on his way to Spain, with one of the biggest clubs in the world – Real Madrid – eyeing him for a possible move this summer.
Zinedine Zidane has been busy making low-money deals in the current transfer window as he attempts to build a complete squad that is bereft of any weakness. The addition of Theo Hernandez and Dani Ceballos, in addition to the returns of Marcos Llorente and Jesus Vallejo have helped the Frenchman reinforce midfield and defence.
Central defence continues to remain a worrisome position, though, for the Real Madrid boss, with Vallejo and Raphael Varane suffering recurring injury problems over the years, casting doubts over their long-term availability over the course of a campaign, while Nacho is only considered as a squad player.
With club captain Sergio Ramos on the wrong side of 30, Caio, with age on his side as well as his abilities has emerged as a viable target for Florentino Perez. However, Zidane has his doubts over the Brazil international and is keeping his options open.
A defender, though, is likely to be signed before the transfer window slams shut, but it remains to be seen if Caio becomes the central defensive reinforcement that Zidane is eager to bring to Santiago Bernabeu.
