Nacho reportedly has no intention of leaving Real Madrid, thereby handing a major blow to AS Roma’s hopes of signing him in January.
According to a report by Catalan outlet El Nacional, Nacho is determined to stay put at Real Madrid beyond the January transfer window. The Spanish giants also have no intention of selling the Spanish defender amid interest from Serie A giants AS Roma.
Nacho joined Real Madrid’s famed academy La Fabrica two decades ago from AD Complutense and progressed through the club’s youth setup before making the grade in the first-team squad in 2011. Having completed over ten years in the senior side, the Spaniard has come a long way, delivering the goods for both club and country.
To date, Nacho has made 244 appearances for Real Madrid, chipping in with 13 goals and eight assists in the process. While the 31-year-old has largely been utilised as a backup option by various managers, it has never really prompted him to seek a move away from the club. However, he has still been pursued by several clubs over the years, with AS Roma currently hot on his trail.
The interest from the Serie A giants is understandable amid rumours that Jose Mourinho does not trust some of the defenders in his squad. As per widespread reports, the former Real Madrid boss is hoping for AS Roma to part ways with Chris Smalling and Marash Kumbulla, neither of whom has convinced him much.
Consequently, the Italian outfit will need to scour the market for possible replacement options for the duo. To that end, Nacho had emerged as a target for Roma, with Mourinho keenly eyeing a reunion with the Real Madrid defender at Stadio Olimpico.
However, the veteran defender has no intention of leaving Real Madrid in the January transfer window. In addition, the Spanish giants are also uninterested in listening to any offers for Nacho, with club president Florentino Perez determined to keep him at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Such a development has come as a major blow to AS Roma’s hopes of snapping him up this winter. This is the second instance wherein the Serie A giants have been dealt a setback in pursuing a Real Madrid player, with Los Blancos rejecting a bid for Lucas Vazquez. As for the pursuit of a centre-back, it remains to be seen who the Giallorossi pursue now, with Nacho staying put at Real Madrid.
