Barcelona and Real Madrid set to battle it out for Bayern Munich star
FT Desk
- 15 Oct 2022 18:20 BST
- 3 min read
The rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid extends beyond Sunday's Clasico, with the La Liga giants locked in a battle to sign one of Bayern Munich's brightest young stars…
Barca and Real are both keeping tabs on Alphonso Davies, the Canadian youngster who has made the left-back spot his own at Bayern over the last few seasons.
Barca have a nascent talent of their own in the position in Alex Balde, while Ferland Mendy has seemed pretty secure in his position at the Santiago Bernabeu, but both clubs need greater squad depth at left-back.
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Jordi Alba looks likely to leave Barcelona, if not in January then at the end of the season, with the Blaugrana keen to get his salary off the wage bill and Inter Milan reportedly interested in giving the Spaniard a way out.
Real have already lost their most senior left-back, meanwhile, with Marcelo joining Olympiacos on a free transfer this summer.
Real interest
"Real Madrid would be interested in acquiring the services of Alphonso Davies, the left-back for Bayern Munich," report Catalan daily, Sport. "The Canadian is a key player with the Bavarians and performing at a very high level.
"Los Blancos know that in the short-term it would be complicated but Davies is already on their radar."
Barca were made rudely aware of Davies' ability in August 2020 when they were beaten 8-2 by Bayern in the quarter-finals of that season's Champions League. Davies sat Nelson Semedo down before teeing up Joshua Kimmich for Bayern's fifth goal in that destruction.
🔴🔥 The modern-day full-back. Alphonso Davies has everything... and he's only 19 😱 #UCL pic.twitter.com/UzIlEPIqoR
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 19, 2020
Davies has averaged 10 progressive carries and three shot-creating actions in the Bundesliga over the last year, and is already has 100 Bundesliga appearances to his name despite his tender 21 years.
A Canadian international who also previously turned out for Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS, Davies could also prove a commercial asset for both Barcelona and Real Madrid as they seek to make further inroads into the North American market.
