Manchester United have reportedly been told to cough up €500 million to sign Federico Valverde from Real Madrid this summer.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Diario Madridista, Real Madrid are pointing towards the €500 million release clause in Federico Valverde’s contract to part ways with him in the summer transfer window. Manchester United are interested in signing the Uruguayan midfielder.
Federico Valverde has seen his stock skyrocket over the last 12 months or so. Having broken into the Real Madrid first-team setup last term, the Uruguayan international grew leaps and bounds, but was largely restricted to appearances off the bench in the campaign.
The 2019-20 season, though, has ended up being the real breakthrough season for Valverde, who has become a regular in midfield for Los Blancos, even usurping Luka Modric in the pecking order. His exploits have earned him an admirer in Manchester United, who reportedly want to swoop him away from Real Madrid this summer.
Manchester United appear set to add to their midfield in the summer despite signing Bruno Fernandes earlier this year. The interest in signing another midfielder, though, perhaps stems from the fact that Paul Pogba continues to face an uncertain future at Old Trafford, having first iterated his desire to leave last summer.
If Pogba does end up departing Manchester United at the end of the season, they would need to enter the market for a midfielder, making Valverde a viable target. That the 21-year-old can also play as a holding midfielder only makes him a more attractive option for Manchester United.
Real Madrid, though, are not ready to part ways with the player, who they see as a big part of their long-term future. In fact, Real Madrid have made it clear that they will only sell Valverde if a suitor matches his €500 million release clause.
Even if Manchester United manage to shell out the required €500 million sum, they will need to convince Valverde to leave Real Madrid, which could be quite a big ask, considering his stature at the Bernabeu. All things considered, a transfer away from the Spanish capital looks unlikely.
For now, it looks like Valverde is no closer to parting ways with Real Madrid in the summer transfer window. What remains to be seen is if Manchester United now look to negotiate a compromise of a transfer fee, or if Real Madrid remain intent on demanding €500 million for Valverde.
