Atletico Madrid will reportedly compete with Real Madrid in the race to sign 26-year-old Bayern Munich defender Benjamin Pavard.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid are waging a battle for Benjamin Pavard. The 26-year-old is Carlo Ancelotti’s preferred target to bolster the right-back unit at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Benjamin Pavard has enjoyed a fruitful career thus far despite still not being in his peak years. The French international is a World Cup winner from four years ago with Les Bleus. And the player has also won numerous trophies with Bayern Munich in the last three seasons.
The 26-year-old has made 140 appearances for Bayern Munich, chipping in with nine goals and 11 assists. But Pavard recently suggested that he is ready for a new adventure and could leave Bayern next summer. Such a situation has captured the attention of Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
At Real Madrid, Dani Carvajal is not the dependable right-back he used to be a few years ago. The Spaniard was so good that Los Blancos did not necessarily need another natural right-back in the first-team squad. But Carvajal’s performance levels have regressed, compelling Real Madrid to identify Pavard as a potential alternative.
On the other hand, Atletico Madrid will need to invest in a right-back next summer as part of the squad revamp. Nahuel Molina is the only recognised right-back at Diego Simeone’s disposal. But the Argentine international has blown hot and cold. So Pavard is a viable target for Atletico Madrid for next summer.
The report claims that the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner is the favoured target for Carlo Ancelotti to bolster the right-back unit. But with Atletico Madrid in the equation, Real Madrid will need to be decisive in the next move. Recent reports have claimed that the reigning La Liga champions are ready to pay €18 million for the 26-year-old.
But that might not be enough, with Bayern Munich reportedly demanding €35 million to part ways with him. So Atletico Madrid might have a window of opportunity to usurp Real Madrid in the race to sign the 26-year-old World Cup winner.
