Bookmark this page and check back for the latest Real Madrid transfer rumors and news for the 2024 windows.
We only reference reliable sources covering the club, and each news item has a section with additional analysis to help contextualize the importance or relevance of the rumor.
Real Madrid pretending not to want Mbappé?
Details
Cadena SER’s Jesús Gallego recently reported that Real Madrid are no longer interested in Kylian Mbappé, stating three reasons. Firstly, that his wages would be too expensive in conjunction with a bonus fee for a free transfer. Secondly, that at almost 26 years old on arrival, he would no longer be a signing for the future like Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, and Eduardo Camavinga were. And thirdly, many Madridistas turned on Mbappé after the events in 2022 when he chose PSG at the last second.
However, RMC Sport reports that Real Madrid themselves leaked this information to protect their image. They still want Mbappé, but if they cannot get him in 2024, they do not want the blowback that happened in 2022. RMC Sport maintains Florentino Pérez is still interested in signing Mbappé, regardless of what the Cadena SER reports says.
Analysis
There’s a lot to unpack here, but does it really matter? As I will tell you time and time again, the Kylian Mbappé transfer drama is not ending any time soon. To be honest, some of the financial arguments are flimsy, because they weren’t an issue in 2021 or 2022 when Real Madrid were reportedly preparing record sums to pay Mbappé. They know how much it costs to pay a superstar. The argument of him being almost 26 doesn’t hold much weight and seems like manipulation to exaggerate his age, because Mbappé is still only 24. Cristiano Ronaldo was a little younger when he arrived in Madrid, but he wasn’t a U23 prospect either. Not to compare the two, but I use Ronaldo as a reference to show that this isn’t like the Eden Hazard signing where Mbappé is almost 30.
That said, those points are also well-taken. Mbappé would be expensive. He isn’t a U23 player anymore. And if some people around the club, including supporters, can’t trust him, then why should Real play desperate and spend a ton of money on Mbappé when they could just as well sign a different forward? The point is, maybe Real Madrid is still interested in Mbappé, because smart business dictates you should be open to any possibility. However, Real don’t need to be desperate for him anymore.
Alphonso Davies prefers Real Madrid to Bayern?
Details
Speaking on “Die Bayern-Woche”, Sport1’s chief reporter Kerry Hau stated that Bayern Munich left back Alphonso Davies is “leaning” toward joining Real Madrid.
Analysis
Alphonso Davies, not Kylian Mbappé, will be the hottest topic surrounding Real Madrid in the coming transfer market. One of the best left backs in world football, Davies would be a massive upgrade on what Real have had since Marcelo’s peak ended a few seasons ago. Davies has his own technical limitations, but he can still provide assists and makes up for some of the missed crosses with his sheer volume. His progression and defensive work at left back are second to none. This transfer looks likely if Davies is indeed favoring a new challenge in Madrid, given how often his agent and others have been putting stories in the press about a possible move.
Marcos Leonardo to Real Madrid
Details
Per a report from Globo, based in Brazil, Real Madrid and Newcastle have held discussions with Santos striker Marcos Leonardo’s representatives.
Analysis
Leonardo is one of the most highly-touted young Brazilian players and will be courted by virtually every top club in European football, including Real Madrid. It’s unclear how serious Los Blancos are about pursuing Leonardo, but if Juni Calafat wants him, there’s a strong chance Real will get him. Florentino Pérez has shown 100 percent loyalty to the chief scout’s preferences, as Calafat has been money in 95 percent of cases. For example, he convinced Real to sign both Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo Goes, who were crucial in the 2021/22 Champions League triumph. He also told them to sign the cheaper Éder Militão over Matthijs de Ligt, and the former has ended up being the better player.
So how good is Leonardo? Nobody can pretend to know the answer, except for a trained scout who understands how players translate to the next level. But even then, there isn’t a foolproof strategy. It’s all about taking the right risks. Real Madrid recently signed Endrick at the age of 16 from Palmeiras. Leonardo is 20 but would be cheaper, with a reported 20 million pounds likely being the minimum offer Santos would even entertain.
Eduardo Camavinga contract renewal done
Details
Per Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid have signed star midfielder Eduardo Camavinga to a new contract that will take him through the 2028/29 season. It will include a one billion euro release clause.
Analysis
Real Madrid remain proactive when it comes to extending their talents, and their players are more than happy to stay at the biggest club in world football. Camavinga was a bargain in the 2021 window when he arrived for just around 30 million euros, and he’s already blossomed into one of the best midfielders in Europe. The one billion euro release clause is a symbolic gesture from the club that the consider Camavinga among the untouchable players.
January 2024 transfer window plans
Details
Carlo Ancelotti told reporters that transfers in the January 2024 window are “off”. He opened the door for moves in the summer but maintained that “nothing” is expected to happen in the winter.
Analysis
This is par for the course for Real Madrid. As explained in detail here, Los Blancos generally don’t make major moves in the winter window, unless if it’s signing a player like Reinier Jesus or Endrick for the future. Real Madrid do need immediate center back help, but they are unlikely to sign a truly helpful option in January – especially not the caliber of player who can help the team for years to come. The same goes for their attacking situation. Madridistas may get frustrated whenever Carletto or the club relay information of standing pat at the window, but the reality is that the kind of players Real want just aren’t available in this period. Look last year. How many of those blockbuster winter transfers were merely straight-up overpay?
PSG don’t care if Mbappé goes to Madrid?
Details
According to a report from L’Èquipe, via Andrés Onrubia of Diario AS, PSG no longer care if Kylian Mbappé leaves the club for free in 2024, because he has already agreed to forfeit the 100 million euros in loyalty bonus if he were to join another team as a free agent next summer.
Analysis
As with anything regarding Kylian Mbappé, Madridistas should believe it when they see it. Any statement or report about Mbappé’s intentions will be taken with a grain of salt, considering how close he was to joining Real Madrid in 2022, only to decide to stay with PSG at the last second. It seems like PSG’s whole issue with losing Mbappé, post-World Cup, is having the star man double-dip on his bonus for 2023/24 before leaving to collect another check as a signing-on bonus for being a free-agent transfer. It appears that will not be the case, meaning Mbappé may be inclined to help facilitate a transfer to Real Madrid.
Liverpool is mentioned as a possible destination, but they may only come into play if Madrid opt to not sign him. Given Florentino Pérez’s proclivity toward signing superstars, it seems unlikely he would reject the player. Though Madrid made a recent statement denying ongoing negotiations with Mbappé, that was more about avoiding a legal battle with PSG while the forward is still under contract with the Ligue 1 giants. Madrid’s interest and the overarching Mbappé transfer saga are far from over.
Gonçalo Inácio to Real Madrid
Details
According to Manu Sainz of Diario AS, Sporting CP have set an asking price of 60 million euros for Gonçalo Inácio; they will not accept anything lower than this price, because it is his release clause. They are willing to take 45 million euros in an initial payment with the rest of the fee paid in add-ons later.
Analysis
Real Madrid need another center back. Éder Militão‘s injury has exposed their depth and lack of quality at the position. Veterans David Alaba, Antonio Rüdiger, and Nacho Fernández are all great on their day but have proven too inconsistent to be relied on as the only options. Los Blancos need a young star to join Militão, and Gonçalo Inácio is one of the most highly-rated center backs in the world right now. Virtually every top club wants him.
Musiala is Madrid’s Mbappé alternative?
Details
Per a report from BILD’s Tobias Altschäffl, Jamal Musiala is Real Madrid’s top alternative to signing Kylian Mbappé if the Merengue club is unable to sign the PSG superstar.
Analysis
Musiala and Mbappé don’t play the same positions and are in no way similar players, so it is hard to understand how the Bayern superstar would be the top alternative to the Frenchman – other than the fact that he is a world-class player. A star from the moment he stepped foot onto the pitch for Die Roten, Musiala has reached an even higher level this season. He would obviously be a major signing for Real Madrid and has the quality to play for them. While he can play on the wing or in the midfield, he is clearly best as a 10. That means Jude Bellingham would have to play further from goal to accommodate his teammate, or Madrid would have to shift to a Pep Guardiola-like setup with two 10’s, which could actually work with the complementary skill-sets Musiala and Bellingham have. Consider this transfer highly unlikely, though. Musiala belongs in Bayern. It is impossible to see him leaving.
Bayern ‘annoyed’ with Real Madrid, Alphonso Davies links
Details
According to BILD’s Christian Falk and René Walther, Bayern Munich are annoyed with Alphonso Davies’ agent Nedal Huoseh for fueling speculation of a transfer to Real Madrid, as well as the stagnant contract negotiations. BILD maintains that Davies is Juni Calafat’s top dream transfer target for Madrid in 2024.
Analysis
Now this is a transfer involving a Bayern star that could actually happen. As was the case with Robert Lewandowski‘s exit from Bavaria to Catalunya, where there is smoke, there is fire. And over the past few months, there has been an awful lot of smoke linking Davies to Madrid. It seems as if Davies is highly interested in working with Carlo Ancelotti and moving to the Spanish capital, otherwise he wouldn’t let his agent seemingly leak so many stories to Madrid-based media. Davies has his limitations technically, but he more than makes up for them with his intensity on and off the ball. He is arguably the best left back in the world and would be a massive upgrade for a Real Madrid side that hasn’t had a top left back since Marcelo’s decline. Tactically, Davies has the right profile for Real.
Ferland Mendy transfer difficulties
Details
Relevo’s Jorge C. Picon reports Real Madrid would like to sell left back Ferland Mendy in 2024, but only a move to the Saudi Pro League appears viable for the Frenchman. Mendy is reportedly uninterested in that offer and would like to stay in Madrid.
Analysis
Speaking of Real’s problems at left back, Ferland Mendy has struggled these last couple of seasons with injuries, while his attacking deficiencies have been brutally exposed. Although Mendy was important defensively in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons since arriving from Lyon for 50 million euros, time has proven that he doesn’t have the technical quality to help Los Merengues. Mendy isn’t a bad left back, but because he hasn’t been important recently, you can see why top clubs around Europe aren’t very interested in him.
Lautaro comments on Real Madrid transfer rumors
Details
When asked about Real Madrid by Ibai Llanos in a Twitch interview, Lautaro Martínez affirmed that his “head” and “heart” are very much committed to Inter Milan.
Analysis
Linked to Real Madrid a few years ago, Lautaro Martínez is actually a more plausible option in 2024. That’s because Karim Benzema is no longer with the club, and Madrid don’t have a striker besides Joselu. Better yet, Lautaro is at the peak of his powers right now, maturing into a more consistent and well-rounded striker. But because he is so important to Inter as a player and leader, it is highly unlikely he leaves. Inter reached the Champions League Final against the odds and won the Coppa Italia last season, while they are Scudetto favorites this season. Martínez is writing a special chapter in Milano, so it would make more sense for him to wait before moving to a new challenge like Madrid.
The managing editor of The Trivela Effect, Kevin has 15 years of experience in digital media. He covered Real Madrid from 2019-2022 for The Real Champs as a site manager. You can contact him at the site’s official Twitter handle @TrivelaEffect or via the site’s official email thetrivelaeffect@gmail.com.