Real Madrid are reportedly willing to activate the €60 million release clause for Jose Maria Gimenez in order to sign the Atletico Madrid star.
Spanish publication Marca are claiming that Real Madrid are ready to launch the offensive for a rival. Atletico Madrid defender Jose Maria Gimenez has emerged as a summer target for Los Blancos, with the club ready to activate the player’s €60 million release clause in order to facilitate his move across the Spanish capital.
Jose Maria Gimenez’s stock has been on a steady rise since joining Atletico Madrid from Danubio in the summer of 2013. Bought for a measly figure, the player has been proving to be a steal, with the Uruguayan becoming a starter for Los Rojiblancos. The defender played in just 23 La Liga games mostly due to injuries.
Gimenez is on the radar of the biggest clubs in Europe, with Manchester United and Arsenal being linked with the Uruguayan for a considerable amount of time. While Atletico Madrid would be reluctant to let go of their prized talent, the La Liga giants are willing to accept the player’s departure should his €60 million release clause be met.
One club that is looking to take advantage of the presence of a release clause is their crosstown rivals Real Madrid. Zinedine Zidane has overseen another historic triumph in the Champions League, but their domestic debacle is something the manager would want to address.
One of the major areas that need reinforcement is the central defence, with Zidane not having many quality options at his disposal. Nacho has been used as Dani Carvajal’s deputy on the right while Jesus Vallejo is yet to convince the manager or the fans of his quality.
This leaves Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane as the only options at Zidane’s disposal. And while the former is always in trouble with suspensions, Varane’s injury-prone nature makes the central defence fragile. Real Madrid have been looking at various names from within the league to reinforce their backline, but Gimenez could be the best option among the ones that are accessible.
With a €60 million release clause in place, Real Madrid will not have to go through the hassle of negotiating with Atletico Madrid. Also, Gimenez is already an established face in La Liga and the player is already comfortable in Madrid, meaning he will not take any time to settle in according to the club’s surroundings.
Real Madrid could face competition from Arsenal and Manchester United in pursuit of the Uruguayan. But, chances are, if Zinedine Zidane really wants the Atletico Madrid man, we are likely to see him head to the Bernabeu in the summer.
