Barcelona and Real Madrid have reportedly held talks with the entourage of versatile French defender Benjamin Pavard.
According to a report by Spanish publication SPORT, Barcelona and Real Madrid have stepped up their efforts to sign Benjamin Pavard. The two La Liga heavyweights have held discussions with the entourage of the versatile French defender, who will likely leave Bayern Munich next summer.
Benjamin Pavard has established himself as one of the best defenders in the Bundesliga in the last half a decade. The 26-year-old first rose to prominence at VfB Stuttgart before taking his career to the next level at Bayern Munich. At the same time, he is a pivotal figure for the French national side, with whom he won the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The versatile French defender has made 140 appearances thus far for Bayern Munich, chipping in with nine goals and 11 assists. Pavard’s versatility is his greatest asset, and his progress has alerted several European bigwigs, including Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Barcelona will likely offload Hector Bellerin next year, with the Spaniard failing to make his mark at Spotify Camp Nou. In addition, Sergi Roberto is not the same player he once was and might leave Barcelona next summer as a free agent. The Blaugrana will thus need to invest in a right-back, with Pavard emerging as a viable target.
As for Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti has a much more reliable right-back at his disposal in Dani Carvajal. But the veteran right-back has seen his performance levels dip in the wake of a few fitness issues. So Real Madrid will likely delve into the market for a right-back to compete with Carvajal. And Pavard is one of the players on Los Blancos’ radar.
Barcelona and Real Madrid have now intensified their efforts to sign the versatile French defender. The report claims that the two La Liga heavyweights have held talks with his entourage, thus taking a step closer to signing him. And Pavard will not cost a bomb, either.
Recent reports have claimed that Bayern Munich will demand €35 million to part ways with the 26-year-old. It will be interesting to see if he joins either Barcelona or Real Madrid when he leaves Bayern Munich next summer.
