Real Madrid could reportedly pursue Darwin Nunez as an alternative to Kylian Mbappe but will need to pay €80 million to land the Benfica striker.
According to a report by Spanish publication AS, Darwin Nunez is the subject of interest from Real Madrid over a possible move in the summer transfer window. The Benfica striker has an €80 million price tag, with Manchester United already having an offer rejected from the Uruguayan.
Darwin Nunez has established himself as one of the hottest properties in Europe since joining Benfica from Almeria nearly two years ago. The 22-year-old initially encountered teething problems at the Portuguese club but has come into his own since the second half of the 2020/21 season.
The Uruguayan striker has enjoyed a memorable 2021/22 campaign, amassing 34 goals and four assists in 41 appearances across all competitions. Nunez’s exploits have not gone unnoticed either, with some of the biggest clubs in Europe, including Real Madrid and Manchester United, setting their sights on him.
The interest from Real Madrid comes in the wake of the end of their pursuit of Kylian Mbappe. The Frenchman seemed to be closing in on joining Los Blancos in a Bosman move in the summer transfer window before opting to stay put at Paris Saint-Germain. Despite the setback, the Spanish giants have turned their attention towards identifying alternatives to Mbappe.
To that end, several attackers have emerged on Real Madrid’s radar, including Rafael Leao, with Darwin Nunez also a viable target. While he is primarily a striker, the Uruguayan international can also play on the left flank, making him a versatile prospect for Real Madrid, who could face stiff competition from Manchester United in his pursuit.
The Red Devils are keen on signing a striker in the summer transfer window, with Edinson Cavani set to depart from Old Trafford as a free agent. Manchester United will unlikely have any qualms about affording his €80 million price tag either. But Nunez has reportedly rejected an offer from Manchester United as he wants to play in the UEFA Champions League.
That gives Real Madrid the advantage in the race to sign Nunez, and they might be able to afford to pay €80 million too. But Manchester United could still put up a fight to land the Benfica striker, meaning an intriguing transfer battle could set up in the coming weeks.