In a major development, AS reports that Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has given the green light to the possible arrival of Aymeric Laporte at the Santiago Bernabeu this summer.
Real Madrid have been looking for defensive reinforcements all summer after parting ways with Nacho Fernandez and Rafa Marin.
With David Alaba’s recovery from injury progressing more slowly than expected, Ancelotti only has Antonio Rüdiger and Eder Militao available as front-row defenders.
The club had Leny Yoro in its sights but he opted for a move to Manchester United while Jesus Vallejo struggled with fitness issues.
Even though Ancelotti has stressed that Real Madrid have no plans to sign another defender, the door is not completely closed for a possible new signing.
Laporte could join
Now, according to AS, the Real Madrid coach has already given the green light for the possible signing of Aymeric Laporte, who currently plays for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
The Spanish international, who won UEFA Euro 2024 earlier this summer, has been discussed internally as a possible new signing at Real Madrid this summer, but a concrete move has not yet been made.
Laporte, for his part, is apparently ready to take the step back to Europe and move to Real Madrid this summer.
Real Madrid is not willing to pay a transfer fee
However, a transfer is likely to be difficult, as Real Madrid does not want to pay a transfer fee to sign Laporte and the 30-year-old will therefore have to terminate his contract with Al Nassr if he wants to move to the Santiago Bernabeu.
According to the report, Laporte’s agent has already started talks with the Saudi top club about a possible mutual termination of his contract, which would mean the player giving up a salary of 48 million euros (24 million euros annual salary with two years remaining).
But Al Nassr has closed its doors after the club invested 27 million euros to sign the central defender.
According to Saudi Arabian media, the defender’s intention led to an emergency meeting between Al Nassr’s sporting director Fernando Hierro, coach Luis Castro and Al-Muhaidib, the president of the Riyadh club.
However, sources told AS that Al Nassr was very calm about the situation and rejected allegations of an emergency meeting.
Laporte, for his part, will not take extreme measures to force his exit, so it remains to be seen whether his agent and Al Nassr can reach an amicable agreement to terminate his contract, which would pave the way for a transfer to Real Madrid.
