Carlo Ancelotti has reportedly set his sights on Alex Meret as a possible option to become the backup goalkeeper at Real Madrid.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Defensa Central, Carlo Ancelotti has zeroed in on Alex Meret as a potential backup goalkeeping target for the summer transfer window. The 24-year-old Italian international could be pursued if Andriy Lunin is sent out on loan by Real Madrid.
Alex Meret has been with Napoli since 2018, having initially joined the Partenopei from Udinese on a loan deal before making his move permanent in the summer of 2019. Since then, the 24-year-old goalkeeper has had to share game time with David Ospina, which proved to be the case in 2020/21 as well.
As a result, the Italian international made just 28 appearances across all competitions, keeping seven clean sheets in the process. His progress at Napoli, though, seems to have caught the attention of Carlo Ancelotti, who is now eager to bring him to Real Madrid in the summer transfer window.
Ever since Carlo Ancelotti was announced as the new Real Madrid manager, it has been suggested that the Italian tactician could raid some of his former clubs this summer. To that end, Los Blancos have been linked with a few Napoli players as well, including Hirving Lozano, with Meret now a possible target.
The interest in Meret stems from the fact that Andriy Lunin could be loaned out by Real Madrid this summer so that he can gain some valuable first-team experience. The Ukrainian’s departure would create a void in the goalkeeping department for a backup to Thibaut Courtois, which is where the 24-year-old Italian international comes in.
However, a move is unlikely to materialise, as Napoli are unwilling to part ways with Meret this summer. And even if the Serie A giants were open to offloading him, they would have demanded around €25 million in exchange for his services, which is a valuation Real Madrid would not have matched.
The Merengues, therefore, need to set their sights elsewhere in search of a goalkeeping recruit while Ancelotti identifies other potential reinforcements for his squad, including Timo Werner and Houssem Aouar. As for Meret, he looks set to stay put at Napoli, with Real Madrid forced to consider alternatives.