Real Madrid has shown interest in Brazilian defensive midfielder Bruno Guimarães (29, Newcastle United), who seemed destined to join Manchester United (Man United).
Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo reported on the 19th (Korean time) that Real Madrid has reentered the race to sign Guimarães, which has unsettled the final-stage negotiations with Man United, who had offered a transfer fee of about €80 million (about 137.5 billion won).
Man United identified Guimarães as the ideal replacement for Casemiro (34), who has decided to leave the club at the end of this season. It was reported that Casemiro himself strongly recommended Guimarães to the club, saying that Guimarães would be the right person to lead Man United's next phase.
Above all, Guimarães' move to Man United seemed to accelerate after Newcastle suffered a 2-7 defeat to Barcelona in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) round of 16, losing 3-8 on aggregate and being eliminated.
But Real Madrid's intervention appears to have changed everything. According to the article, Real has been tracking Guimarães since Carlo Ancelotti's tenure as a long-term successor to Luka Modrić and Toni Kroos. At one point the transfer nearly went through but fell through.
The reason Real is pursuing Guimarães again is due to internal circumstances. With Eduardo Camavinga (24)'s future uncertain, Guimarães—who combines defensive stability and technical precision—was evaluated as a perfect fit for Real's midfield.
Ultimately, Real's interest on the transfer market currently outweighs Man United's. Guimarães, who is contracted to Newcastle until 2028, is unlikely to easily refuse a return to Spain or an offer from Real, which has one of Europe's top squads.
It remains to be seen whether Man United will lose Guimarães, a national team junior whom Casemiro personally recommended. The more intense the competition, the more likely Newcastle will be the beneficiary.
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