La Liga champions Real Madrid are reportedly interested in signing 28-year-old Slovakian midfielder Stanislav Lobotka from Serie A giants Napoli.
According to Italian journalist Valter De Maggio, as relayed by Mundo Deportivo, Stanislav Lobotka has emerged on the radar of Real Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti is closely monitoring the 28-year-old midfielder at Serie A club Napoli.
Stanislav Lobotka has played across Europe during his decade-long professional career. The Slovak spent his formative years in his homeland before joining Ajax in 2013. He then passed through Nordsjaelland and Celta Vigo before joining Serie A giants Napoli nearly three years ago. And the player has established himself as one of the best midfielders in Serie A since then.
The 28-year-old has featured prominently for Napoli this season, turning out 21 times thus far. And Lobotka has played an instrumental role in keeping the Partenopei on top of Serie A midway through the campaign. The Slovakian international’s performances have not gone unnoticed either, with Real Madrid interested in him.
Valter De Maggio has claimed that Carlo Ancelotti is taking a keen interest in Lobotka. And as quoted by Mundo Deportivo, the Italian journalist said, “A little bird told me that Ancelotti wants Lobotka at Real Madrid.”
Real Madrid will lay down the succession plan for Luka Modric and Toni Kroos in the foreseeable future. With the ageing midfield duo approaching the final stretch of their respective careers, the Merengues need to be ready with the replacements. Several midfielders, including Jude Bellingham, have thus emerged on Real Madrid’s radar.
Lobotka will be an intriguing option for Real Madrid, considering he has excelled as a holding midfielder. But the 28-year-old drew comparisons with Modric in his youth career and has the creative instincts to shine as a box-to-box midfielder. In addition, he can also be an alternative to Aurelien Tchouameni.
Lobotka is not only on Real Madrid’s radar; several Premier League bigwigs are also interested in him. But recent reports have claimed that the 28-year-old is closing in on signing a new contract with Napoli. And the Serie A giants might be unwilling to sell the Slovakian midfield powerhouse next year.
