Real Madrid have reportedly entered the race to sign Lazio midfielder Luis Alberto, who is also a transfer target for Juventus and AC Milan.
According to a report from Il Messaggero, via Tutto Mercato Web, Real Madrid are among a trio of top European clubs interested in making a swoop for Lazio’s Spanish midfielder Luis Alberto in the summer transfer window.
A former Sevilla and Barcelona B player, Alberto has been with Lazio for five years now, having made the move to the Italian capital club following a difficult stint in England with Liverpool. Since moving to Rome though, the 28-year-old has been able to reinvigorate his career and establish himself as one of the finest in his position in Serie A.
To date, Alberto has featured 175 times for Lazio, bagging 235 goals and 48 assists. The one-time capped Spanish international played a key role in ensuring that the Biancocelesti were able to qualify for European football in the 2020/21 season, finishing with a return of nine goals and four assists from 40 games in all competitions.
Alberto’s performances have seemingly put him on the radars of several big clubs across Europe. While the 26-year-old has previously been on the radars of Barcelona, it is now Real Madrid that are showing a strong keenness to snap him up from Lazio this summer, along with Serie A giants Juventus and AC Milan.
Real Madrid are in a summer of transition where they have to replace a number of ageing stars from the side. One such veteran who will need to be replaced is Luka Modric, who will be turning 36 in September with the Los Blancos needing a succession plan in place for the Croatian maestro. In addition, Toni Kroos is also into his thirties and would benefit in the long run from having his game-time managed carefully.
With there being question marks over the futures of players such as Isco, who did not feature much in the last season, and Dani Ceballos, who has just returned from a middling loan spell with Arsenal, adding another midfielder in the summer becomes that much more important for new manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Links to Manchester United’s Paul Pogba are resurfacing yet again whereas Renato Sanches of LOSC Lille is also on the radars of Real Madrid following an impressive season in France and a strong start to the UEFA Euro 2020 with Portugal. Also among the targets, as per the aforementioned report, is Lazio’s Alberto, who can be a viable option to replace Modric in the squad at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The report goes on to say that the Spaniard is valued at €60 million by Lazio, although that price tag may be brought down by offering players in exchange, with Ceballos’ name being mentioned as a potential option while Milan and Juventus could be willing to send Alessio Romagnoli and Arthur Melo the other way, respectively, as part of a deal for Alberto.
It now remains to be seen whether Real Madrid do decide to act on their interest in the former Barcelona B midfielder this summer or look at alternatives. For now, Alberto is an option that the Merengues are looking at.