Soccer: Rodrigo Bentancur to Infuse New Blood to Real Madrid
With Real Madrid likely to be banned from signing up new players, the ballclub has started to follow an alternate route---by turning to young talents they have under their wing.
One player who is reportedly close to joining the team is Rodrigo Bentancur, an 18-year-old midfielder who plays for the Boca Juniors.
The deal has yet to be completed as of this writing, estimated to be about €10 million per Marca. Bentancur will likely end up playing for Real Madrid Castilla though there is a chance he gets booted up to the first team. Real Madrid is trying to negotiate two transfer windows without having to sign any big-name players.
Real Madrid seems to be resigned to the fact that they will be unable to sign any new players after this month. Though they have already filed a first appeal, the Daily Mail reports that Real Madrid is unlikely to get the ban put back up.
Whatever happens, it seems that the new signing strategy in place for Real Madrid is now starting to take shape. Bentancur’s arrival is living proof of that, the latest from a string of young players set to beef up the ballclub.
Bentancur has made strides under Boca’s youth system, starting out as an attacking midfielder but is now developing into a holding player. He is, however, someone who is untested, having started only 11 times. The only thing left right now seems to be the money involved to close the deal.
He follows the footsteps of other young players arriving in Real Madrid. Martin Odegaard is already on board, as well as Jesus Vallejo and Marco Asensio.
Vallejo and Asensio are currently on loan to Zaragoza and Espanyol but both are expected to be back by the end of the season.
Despite reports that a contract is ready, Boca Juniors president Daniel Angelci says that no formal offer has been made for Bentancur on their end.
"We have not yet received a formal proposal from Real Madrid for Bentancur," Angelici said via ESPN FC. "The number that is being mentioned is not correct. His clause is lower than the figure mentioned."
Despite that, it seems that Angelci will not be opposing the signing as long as its price is right.
"If it comes, we will analyse it and see if it is suitable for the player and the club."
Once the paperwork is done and both Boca and Real Madrid shake on it, Bentancur will be the first major signing for newly instilled manager Zinedine Zidane via The National.
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