Real Madrid Eyes Victor Osimhen as Kylian Mbappe Alternative for Next Season

Real Madrid is gearing up for a fourth attempt to sign Kylian Mbappe next summer, with his contract at Paris Saint-Germain set to expire. However, the fact that they are exploring alternative options suggests that they are not entirely certain of securing Mbappe’s services.

Erling Haaland, the forward for Manchester City, has long been considered a close rival to Mbappe in their generation. Real Madrid had previously expressed interest in Haaland before pursuing Mbappe two seasons ago. Should their pursuit of Mbappe prove unsuccessful, it is likely they will turn their attention to Haaland.

Now, Diario AS reports that Napoli forward Victor Osimhen has been added to Real Madrid’s shortlist of alternatives. Napoli’s president, Aurelio di Laurentiis, has set a hefty €200 million price tag on the 24-year-old Nigerian, particularly after he rejected a move to Saudi Arabia during the recent summer transfer window.

While it’s unlikely that Real Madrid would pay such a substantial fee, recent tensions between the club and Osimhen, sparked by controversial social media posts mocking the player, have thrown his future into uncertainty. Real Madrid is closely monitoring the situation, and Osimhen could become a viable option for them, especially if their pursuit of Mbappe falls through.

Notably, this report emerges just hours before Real Madrid’s match against Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, where Osimhen’s performance will be closely observed. It remains to be seen whether this is a mere distraction tactic or a genuine expression of interest, but Osimhen’s impressive impact for Napoli last season makes him an attractive prospect for any club in need of his position.