And now that?

Without Mbappé, Madrid has to rethink its sports project. At the moment the option of going for an alternative crack is stopped, because it was not planned. It was taken for granted that the French star would come. The club in any case and despite the disappointment with Mbappé, prefers to look at the glass half full. The fact that Mbappé does not arrive favors the entity’s roadmap of turning Vinicius and Rodrygo into world stars sooner rather than later.

Madrid handles that homemade Plan B, but also the result in Paris could have a notable influence on whether the Madrid club goes to the market or not looking for a big name. In addition to the possibilities low cost for the substitute nine (RdT and Borja Mayoral) the market is offering attractive options. From Mane Y Salah (both end in 2023) to Darwin Nunez that the white club likes, or a Lewandowski with one foot out of Bayern and crazy about white music and also Rafael Leaoa young talent ready to leave Milan…

Mané and Salah: soon rivals, but in the white orbit

Liverpool have two stars who have been in Madrid’s circle of influence. Sadio Mané was asked by Zidane and Mohamed Salah, in December 2020 and in AS, he let himself be loved. “Sign for Madrid? Who knows…”. The two currently have a beneficial contractual situation to negotiate a transfer. Both the Senegalese and the Egyptian end their contract in 2023, although their negotiations with the Anfield entity are going different ways. Mané has been informed, according to different English media, that he has to wait until the end of the season to start the final talks. Salah, on the other hand, would have his extension until 2027 much closer. There are two elements that complicate a possible white attempt by them. The first, his age. Mané is 30 years old and Salah will turn them next month. They could not be signings for a decade. The second problem, not less, is that Liverpool does not sell. Only a bump in the Paris final and the factor of having the ascendant Luis Díaz (25 years old), who has burst in like a cyclone, could alter that scenario.

Lewandowski: eager to go out and play for Madrid

The Polish He is crazy about leaving Bayern and although he is flirting with Barcelona, ​​his crush, since 2019 Madrid has been his dream, as reported by AS. It was confirmed a week ago by Bayern’s own president, Herbert Hainer, when he spoke in Germany about the rumors that place the striker outside of Munich. “We already had the case in 2019 when Robert flirted with Real Madrid, Bayern are familiar with this situation”, he admitted. The Bavarian club is determined not to sell and threatens to keep him even if he leaves free in 2023. Lewandowski is still lethal even if his passport says that in August he will be 34 years old. He has scored 40 goals or more in the last six seasons (55, 48 and 50 in the most recent three) and Madrid has reports that his physique is that of a gifted man. Since December, when he began to arrange his departure, Lewandowski asked his agent to give priority to Madrid if an offer arrived. With Mbappé, Lewandowski did not fit and more with Benzema. But a loose scorer like this is an appetizing piece.

Darwin Núñez: one of the fashionable strikers and the club likes

The Uruguayan striker, once Haaland was out of circulation with his signing for City, has become one of the most sought-after nines on the market. The former from Peñarol and Almería will turn 23 next month and continues to exploit his spectacular physique. He has made a considerable leap at Benfica this season, with 34 goals (six of them in the Champions League, 26 in the League and two more in the League Cup) in 41 games. He is a footballer who likes in the decision spheres of Real Madrid and also Benfica (traditionally a sales club and in good harmony with Madrid) has assumed that this summer is the time to cash in with the Uruguayan international. Right now, his destiny seems to be headed for the Premier League, although as the Daily Mirror reported last Friday, Darwin has turned down a first offer from Manchester United. In general terms, there was a rapprochement between the red devils and Benfica in an amount close to 80 million euros. That is the economic bar to get the Uruguayan.

Rafael Leao: Option for the future… but it is valued at €100M

It is one of the possibilities that best suits, due to style although obviously saving the distances, to the profile that Mbappé was going to offer in Madrid. Very talented footballer capable of being versatile on the attacking front. At 22, he seems ready to stand out in the World Cup with Portugal after becoming the great star of Milan and the club this year rossonero he is receiving interest from other greats for him. La Gazzetta dello Sport reported this week that both PSG and Manchester United had begun to test the footballer’s situation, with Milan willing to give the green light to a sale in exchange for 100 million euros. The renewal of Mbappé, precisely, ‘eliminates’ the Parisian team from the bid for his signing. Madrid has the advantage that Leao’s agent is Jorge Mendes, closely linked to the white club in the past with other Portuguese whom he represented (Cristiano, Mourinho, Pepe…) and who has now just begun to handle Asensio’s affairs, pending by the way to decide his future.