Italian giants AC Milan are all set to battle Tottenham in the race to the signature of Real Betis defensive midfielder Johnny Cardoso.
According to a report from Fichajes, Johnny Cardoso could be parting ways with Real Betis in 2025, and there is interest in the American midfielder’s services from AC Milan as well as Tottenham Hotspur.
Cardoso came up the ranks at Internacional and made a name for himself while playing for the Brazilian club before making the move to the Spanish outfit at the start of the year. So far, he has featured in 27 matches for Real Betis and even has three goal contributions to his name.
But, things have not been that great for the 23-year-old defensive midfielder in the ongoing season as he has only racked up 457 minutes of first-team action across his eight outings. He has not been a regular starter under Manuel Pellegrini, and it seems to be bothering him.
Cardoso’s contract at Real Betis runs until the summer of 2029 but he could be on the move in the next summer window. The limited game time could be one of the major reasons why he ends up pushing for a move away.
The American international has huge potential, and top clubs have been closely monitoring his situation. If he pushes for a way out next summer, they could look to make the most out of it.
AC Milan to rival Tottenham for Cardoso’s signature
AC Milan are one of the clubs who will go all out to sign him. The Italian giants seek more quality in the centre of the park, and they feel Cardoso could help their cause both in the short as well as the long-run. But, the team from Milan are not the only ones who want to sign him.
Tottenham are also interested in the defensive midfielder, and they have a massive advantage in the race to secure his signature. While Spurs negotiated the departure of Giovani Lo Celso, the English club reached an agreement with Real Betis, which gives them the priority over other suitors to sign Cardoso in the summer of 2025.
If the American international decides to leave Los Verdiblancos, Spurs will have the option to sign him for a fixed fee. While the North London club seem to be the front-runners at this stage, AC Milan are all set to rival them, which does make things interesting.