Real Madrid make approach to move to Atletico's Wanda Metropolitano

James Shearman

• Updated: 9 Jun 2021 13:45 BST

Real Madrid are hoping to play at Atletico Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano stadium next season, while Santiago Bernabeu undergoes renovation work.

As part of 'Operation Return to the Bernabeu', Madrid want to find a short-term home to take advantage of the return of supporters.

READ MORE: Real Madrid make approach to move to Atletico's Wanda Metropolitano

Los Blancos had been playing at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano since March, but the stadium doesn't have the capacity to hold between 20,000 and 30,000 fans - the number that will be allowed at games next season in La Liga.

The Spanish giants are desperate to capitalise on the potential revenue that would follow, especially given their financial state due to the losses they incurred and continue to suffer during the pandemic.

Like every other club in Europe, they have went well over a year with a capacity crowd at their home stadium.

Fortunately, there is a professional relationship between Real Madrid and Atletico that means a deal is likely to take place, despite the obvious on-pitch rivalry.

In fact, Atleti president Enrique Cerezo said they were ''at Real Madrid's disposition" last year.

Timeline for the return?

In any case, Real Madrid don't want to hurry a return to Santiago Bernabeu, with the work much easier to complete without having to hold fixtures.

A date for a return is yet to be agreed upon, but it's likely to be in either September or October, meaning a decent spell of matches will take place at their temporary home, wherever it may be, as the new season begins on 13 August.

However, the club have asked La Liga to allow them to play as many away games as possible in that time, saving the majority for after the return.

Should their request be granted, the total number of games at the Wanda Metropolitano could look something like two Champions League games and two of the seven possible La Liga fixtures.

In the 2020/21 season Madrid finished second in La Liga to Atletico, so may have to play at the home of the champions for a period.