Sources close to Real Madrid have revealed the club's final decision regarding the potential signing of Portuguese star Ruben Neves, the Al-Hilal midfielder, during the current winter transfer window. This comes amidst conflicting reports about the player's future and his desire to return to European football, coinciding with reports of stalled contract renewal negotiations with the Asian club.
Financial situation hinders January deal
According to the Spanish website Defensa Central, which specializes in Real Madrid news, the club's management, headed by Florentino Pérez, has completely ruled out the possibility of signing Neves in the current winter transfer window. The main reason for this decision is the high financial cost of the deal mid-season. Real Madrid's management is unwilling to engage in huge bidding wars for players in January, preferring to wait for better market opportunities.
The report indicated that Real Madrid is fully aware of the player's technical value, but the budget allocated for the winter transfer window does not allow for breaking the contract of a player with Neves' current market value, especially since Al-Hilal will not easily give up one of its main pillars in the middle of the competitions.
Real Madrid's strategy: Wait until the summer
Reports indicate that Real Madrid has decided to postpone discussions regarding Ruben Neves until the start of next season. The club's strategy hinges on capitalizing on the player's contract situation, as sources suggest he could leave at the end of the current season. Los Blancos plan to make a move for the player in the summer, when negotiations will be easier and less costly, and he could potentially be a free agent if reports about his contract expiring and not being renewed prove true. This aligns with the club's recent policy of acquiring stars for reasonable prices or even for free, as seen with Alaba and Rudiger.
General context: Real Madrid's need to strengthen the midfield
This news comes at a time when Real Madrid is facing challenges in midfield and defense due to recurring injuries and the advancing age of some of its veteran stars. Ruben Neves is considered an ideal option to bolster the squad's depth, given his extensive experience in European football gained during his successful spell with Wolverhampton Wanderers in the English Premier League, as well as his leadership qualities, passing accuracy, and long-range shooting ability.
Potential impact of the deal
If this deal goes through next summer, it will be a significant addition to Carlo Ancelotti's squad. Ruben Neves possesses the ability to dictate the tempo of the game and link the lines, qualities Real Madrid seeks to maintain their domestic and European dominance. On the other hand, Neves' departure from Al-Hilal would be a major technical loss for the Saudi league champions, potentially prompting the club to search for another world-class replacement to preserve the team's quality.
