Real Madrid reject €100m bid from Saudi Arabia for superstar defender - Reports
Real Madrid have reportedly rejected a €100 million bid from an unnamed Saudi Arabian club for centre-back Eder Militao. The 26-year-old has been with Los Blancos since the 2019-20 season.
In 156 games across competitions, he has contributed 11 goals and five assists. However, he's coming off an injury-plagued 2023-24 campaign - missing most of the season due to an ACL injury - playing 13 times across competitions.
Militao appeared in the UEFA Super Cup win over Atalanta last week in Warsaw. Despite the Brazilian being contracted to the Santiago Bernabeu till 2028, UOLESporte (via GOAL) reported an unnamed Saudi club tabling a three-figure offer to lure him to the Middle-East, but it was turned down by Los Blancos.
It's pertinent to note that after Nacho Fernandez' move to Saudi Arabia, there was a whopping €1 billion move for striker Vinicius Junior. However, both Vinicius and Militao are unlikely to leave the Bernabeu.
Having arrived from FC Porto in the summer of 2019, Militao has won three La Liga and two UEFA Champions League titles, among 12 titles, won with Los Blancos.
Militao has also won silverware in international football, winning the 2019 Copa America with Brazil just before arriving at the Santiago Bernabeu.
What's next for Real Madrid?
Real Madrid have made a winning start to their 2024-25 season, beating reigning UEFA Europa League winners Atalanta 2-0, thanks to goals from Federico Valverde and new signing Kylian Mbappe after the break.
The win marked veteran midfielder Luka Modric's 27th title with the club - more than any other player in Los Blancos history - having arrived from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2012.
The Croatian's impressive trophy haul at the Bernabeu includes a record six UEFA Champions League and four La Liga titles among a plethora of domestic and continental honours.
Following their Super Cup success, Carlo Ancelotti's side now turn their attention to the league, where they commence their La Liga title defence with a trip to Mallorca on Sunday (August 18).
Carlo Ancelotti's side did the double over Mallorca last season. In their first meeting of the campaign at the Bernabeu in January, an Antonio Rudiger 75th-minute strike gave all three points to the capital side.
In the return in April, Aurelien Tchouameni scored the only goal of the game three minutes after the break as Los Blancos marched towards the title. They lost only twice last season across competitions, winning three titles.