Real Madrid’s €32 Million Player in Negotiations to Depart on Deadline Day

As the summer transfer window draws to a close, Real Madrid’s dealings have been relatively quiet, with only one notable acquisition due to unfortunate circumstances. Thibaut Courtois’ season-ending ACL injury prompted the loan signing of Kepa Arrizabalaga from Chelsea. Now, on Deadline Day, there’s the possibility of an unexpected exit, albeit one that won’t significantly impact the first team.

According to The Athletic, Alvaro Odriozola is in advanced discussions regarding a permanent move to Real Sociedad. Odriozola initially arrived at Real Madrid from Real Sociedad in 2018 for a reported fee of approximately €32 million. However, his career trajectory hasn’t followed the expected trajectory. Even if he returns to his former club this summer, it’s anticipated that Los Blancos will recoup only a fraction of their initial investment, a reflection of his limited playing time and performance.

Odriozola has seen minimal action during his five-year tenure at Real Madrid, with loan stints at Bayern Munich and Fiorentina. Clearly, he is not currently part of the first-team plans, making his potential departure a sensible move for all parties involved.

However, the right-back position is an area where Real Madrid may need to address in the near future. Dani Carvajal, once a stalwart, has experienced a decline in form, and the current squad lacks a true backup option for the Spanish international. Balancing squad depth with the need for reinforcement is a challenge that Real Madrid may need to tackle sooner rather than later in this season’s campaign.