Revealed: Real Madrid enter race for Milan star amid defensive crisis
Cameron Smith
- Updated: 13 Oct 2023 17:52 BST
- 3 min read
Real Madrid are willing to spend €20 million on AC Milan defender Malick Thiaw, according to reports in Spain.
Carlo Ancelotti has been dealt a tough hand with injuries in recent weeks and Eduardo Camavinga has almost become a fixture at left-back.
Furthermore, Aurelien Tchouameni had to fill in at centre-back for their win over Osasuna due to Eder Militao’s potentially season-ending injury, David Alaba’s recent injury struggles and Nacho Fernandez’s suspension.
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Now, Real Madrid are hoping to combat their lack of depth in defence by pursuing a move for 22-year-old German defender Thiaw.
The former Schalke star left his boyhood club to join Milan last summer, but he was not Stefano Pioli’s preferred option upon his arrival.
Thiaw made just two Serie A starts in the opening 21 games of last season before working his way into the starting XI.
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The German has now established himself as a regular alongside Fikayo Tomori at the heart of Milan’s defence and has already racked up seven league starts from a possible eight matches.
Thiaw’s rise to prominence at San Siro has reportedly attracted interest from Real Madrid, who are willing to spend €20m to sign him, according to Mundo Deportivo.
The report states that Los Blancos aren’t the only club interested in Thiaw, although Mundo Deportivo have not revealed who else is keen on the German defender.
Liverpool have been linked previously, but that was before he left Schalke for Milan.
A full Germany international
Thiaw, 22, made his senior Germany debut earlier this year and was included in Julian Nagelsmann’s first squad as the country’s new manager for the current October international break.
The former Bayern head coach took charge of his first Germany match on Thursday, overseeing a 2-1 friendly win over France. Thiaw was an unused substitute during the game, with Niklas Sule and Antonio Rudiger the preferred centre-back pairing.
