Real Madrid Transfer News Roundup: Los Blancos wanted Lionel Messi, club likely to monitor Arsenal ace, and more - September 11, 2024
Real Madrid are preparing to travel to the Anoeta on Saturday (September 14) to face Real Sociedad in La Liga. Carlo Ancelotti's team are second in the league table after four games, four points behind archnemesis Barcelona.
Meanwhile, Los Blancos attempted to prise Lionel Messi away from Camp Nou before he became a worldwide sensation. Elsewhere, the Spanish champions are likely to monitor an Arsenal defender for now.
On that note, let's look at the major Real Madrid transfer stories from September 11, 2024.
Real Madrid wanted Lionel Messi
Real Madrid were interested in signing Lionel Messi when he was a teenager, according to his former agent Horacio Gaggioli. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is one of the greatest footballers of all time and also a Barcelona legend.
Lionel Messi rose through the ranks at Camp Nou and went on to achieve tremendous success with the Catalans. He regularly clashed heads with Los Blancos in the fabled El Clasico and was arguably their tormentor in chief.
After a brief stint with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), the 37-year-old now plays for MLS side Inter Miami. However, it appears that Real Madrid attempted to change the course of history by trying to sign the Argentine years ago.
As cited by Madrid Universal, Gaggioli recently said Lionel Messi didn't entertain Los Blancos as he wanted to stay at Camp Nou.
“Real Madrid were interested in him when he was young, he was 16 or 17 years old, but Leo never wanted to leave Barcelona,” Gaggioli said.
Lionel Messi appeared 778 times for the Catalans, scoring 672 goals and setting up 303 more.
Los Blancos likely to monitor William Saliba, says journalist
Real Madrid are likely to keep a close eye on William Saliba, according to Arsenal insider Charles Watts. The French defender has gone from strength to strength in recent years at the Emirates and is now an established figure under Mikel Arteta.
His spectacular rise has caught the attention of the Santiago Bernabeu hierarchy. Carlo Ancelotti remains a little light at the back, and Saliba could be a fantastic partner for Eder Militao.
In his column for CaughtOffside, Watts pointed out that the Frenchman's performances warrant interest from top clubs in Europe.
“William Saliba’s name is constantly being mentioned in the same breath as Real Madrid. That’s been the case for the past couple of years and it’s going to continue to be the case going forward. Of course he’s going to be linked with Madrid, PSG and every other top side in Europe. Who wouldn’t want William Saliba at their club?” Watts said.
He continued:
“I don’t know how strong Madrid’s interest is in Saliba, but he’ll be on the radar, just as he will be for the other clubs that I’ve mentioned. If you were a sporting director at a top club and you weren’t keeping tabs on Saliba’s career and how things are going at Arsenal then you wouldn’t be doing your job right."
However, the journalist added that the Gunners remain fairly relaxed about the situation.
“But that doesn’t mean he’s going anywhere soon. Arsenal worked very hard to secure Saliba to a new contract just 14 month ago and that deal still has three years left to run," Watts wrote.
He concluded:
“So there is no need to panic and Saliba is very, very happy at Arsenal. If I was Edu though, I would already be putting in the groundwork when it comes to Saliba’s next contract. Because the pace of his rise towards the very top of the game demands that Arsenal have to keep up."
With Antonio Rudiger and David Alana on the wrong side of 30, the La Liga giants could be tempted to move for 23-year-old Saliba soon.
Real Madrid received Trent Alexander-Arnold boost
Trent Alexander-Arnold has turned down the latest contract renewal offer to stay at Anfield, according to SPORT. The English full-back is already in the final year of his contract with Liverpool and Real Madrid are eyeing him with interest.
Los Blancos are preparing for life without Dani Carvajal, whose contract expires next summer. While the 32-year-old is likely to sign an extension, Alexander-Arnold has been identified as his potential successor.
The La Liga champions are hoping to secure his services for free next summer. The Merseyside club are doing all they can to convince him to stay but their efforts haven't been successful so far.
The situation will delight Real Madrid, who have reportedly put in the groundwork for a Bosman move next summer. They could even agree to a pre-contract with the 25-year-old in January unless Liverpool manage to turn things around.