Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid are interested in acquiring the services of Manuel Locatelli in the summer of 2023.
According to Fichajes, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has identified Manuel Locatelli as an important transfer target ahead of next season. Los Blancos will enter the summer transfer window in search of a defensive midfielder. And as per reports, the Italian international is one of their targets.
Ancelotti is a big admirer of the player and wants him at the club. The 25-year-old midfielder has impressed everyone with his abilities over the past few seasons. His performance at UEFA Euro 2020 brought him into the limelight. And since then, a lot of clubs have had their eyes on him.
Juventus managed to strike a deal with Sassuolo to bring the player to Turin in the summer of 2021. It was a two-year loan deal that saw Locatelli join the Italian giants. The loan move is set to expire in the summer of 2023, but Juventus do have an obligation to buy. According to the reports, Juve are now obligated to buy the 25-year-old and have happily accepted the obligation.
However, their financial situation is making things a touch complicated. The Bianconeri might be willing to sell Locatelli in the summer in order to manage their finances. Real Madrid are interested in acquiring his services, and they have the financial backing to get the deal over the line in case Juventus agree to sell.
Locatelli has featured in 69 matches for the Turin-based club. And in the ongoing season, he has made 26 appearances. Los Blancos are in search of a midfielder who can be a part of the rotation policy along with Aurelien Tchouameni, who has struggled with injuries of late. The Real Madrid manager believes that the Italy international can be a perfect fit for the role.
The 25-year-old prefers playing as a defensive midfielder but can also feature as a central midfielder. His versatility will give Ancelotti a lot of options. Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, who have been an integral part of the Real Madrid midfield, are not getting any younger. Their futures at the club is uncertain, and as a result, pushing for Locatelli’s signature makes perfect sense.
However, Los Blancos will first look to secure the signings of Jude Bellingham and Rayan Cherki. Florentino Perez is keen on having the duo at the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer. It will be interesting to see if Real Madrid can manage to secure any of the signings. One thing is for sure, they will go all out for a central midfielder ahead of the next season.
