Real Madrid were convinced, having convinced Leny Yoro to prioritise their offer, that he would be wearing white by the end of the summer. However Manchester United appear to have persuaded Yoro to move to Old Trafford, leaving Los Blancos in the lurch.
Currently they have Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba and Jesus Vallejo on the books at centre-back, but with Vallejo not part of their plans, they had planned for Yoro to be their fourth central defender.
Los Blancos even allowed Rafa Marin to leave as a result of their confidence in getting Yoro over the line, and he would have been their next choice. Relevo say that Real Madrid will not present a counter-offer to Yoro or Lille, as they believe it would be pointless to compete with United financially.
Instead, they are leaning towards not signing anyone. While they have not shut the door on an alternative move, they do not want to take a rushed decision. There are other names they have scouted, but few fit the bill well. It could also open the door to academy products Jacobo Ramon, Joan Martinez or Marvel to step into the first-team when needed, while there is also the option of Aurelien Tchouameni, who deputised there excellently last season.
Alaba will not be back until October, while Rudiger is coming off last season as the player with the most minutes for Los Blancos, and Militao is still getting back to sharpness after his own anterior cruciate ligament injury. Even Vallejo is returning from a season dominated by fitness issues at Granada. Tchouameni is a good alternative though, while Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy have filled in at times too. Real Madrid would be one injury away from a potentially uncomfortable situation though.
