Reports: Real Madrid begin talks in shock €54m move for Chelsea defender
What's the story?
David Luiz' exit from Chelsea has gathered pace, as Real Madrid have begun talks with the Brazilian in a move set to stun the rest of the football world. According to a report in French news outlet, RMC, Los Blancos are all set to pounce on Luiz' precarious relationship with Antonio Conte.
Zinedine Zidane is in need of a defender as most of his options remain injury-prone and with the Brazilian available in January, Madrid might see this move go through. Given David Luiz' predilection for a move away from London, coupled with the fact that he will be cup-tied for the UEFA Champions League, Madrid's hope is that a bid of €54 million ought to be enough.
Also Read: Benching David Luiz was a masterstroke from Antonio Conte
Previously
David Luiz' relationship with Chelsea has always been a complicated one - the Brazilian signed from Benfica in 2011, but a series of error-prone performances saw him leave for PSG in 2014 - with the Ligue 1 side paying a record £50 million fee. Luiz recovered his reputation in Paris, and then made a surprise move back to the Blues in 2016, going on to win the Premier League that season.
The heart of the matter
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte's fallout with the Brazilian defender began after the 3-0 drubbing by AS Roma, with Luiz taking issue with Conte's criticism. Having been subsequently benched, with Andreas Christensen taking his place, Luiz' career at Chelsea is under threat, as Conte noted, saying "I don’t know. He has to work hard, otherwise, they are on the bench or in the stands."
Mohamed Bouhafsi, the ever-reliable RMC journalist who broke the N'Golo Kante transfer to Chelsea has reported this rumour first, which lends credence to what many would consider an unlikely move.
Real Madrid are in need of a central defender, as Raphael Varane and Jesus Vallejo continuing their injury-prone ways, while Sergio Ramos remains a red card candidate. Florentino Perez is all set to take advantage of a situation where both the player and selling club are in favour of a move, with a €54 million move.
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Author's Take:
Barcelona and Manchester United have already been linked with David Luiz, so Real Madrid can naturally expect plenty of competition for one of the world's most high-profile defenders. Marcelo can already vouch for Luiz' quality and the Brazilian can slot into Real Madrid's defence with relative ease. This seems a rather clever move for all parties, and might actually be one that comes to fruition.