Real Madrid have withdrawn from the race to sign Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. The Spanish club initially submitted a bid for the Argentina international, but Romano reports this was a strategic move intended to mislead rivals, particularly Barcelona, who are heavily interested in acquiring Alvarez this summer.
Romano stated that those within Atletico Madrid and the wider industry understood Real Madrid’s bid was likely a “bluff,” as there was no genuine intention to proceed with a deal for Alvarez. A key factor was the understanding that Atletico would be unwilling to sell to their rivals. Barcelona remain the frontrunners for Alvarez’s signature, though a transfer hinges on their financial capabilities.
Instead, Real Madrid are now fully concentrating their efforts on securing the services of Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise. Florentino Perez, Real Madrid’s president, has reportedly identified Olise as the “Galactico” signing he previously alluded to. While Bayern Munich are determined to retain Olise and are preparing a new contract offer, Real Madrid are undeterred.
Reports suggest that a bid of €150 million would not be sufficient to convince Bayern to part with Olise, with club president Herbert Hainer publicly stating they are not looking to sell. Despite this, Real Madrid are exploring alternative strategies to bring the French international to the Santiago Bernabéu. Olise has been a standout performer for Bayern, contributing significantly to their attack, and his potential arrival would bolster Real Madrid’s options in wide areas. The shift in focus represents a change in strategy for the Spanish giants as they look to strengthen their squad ahead of next season.
Arsenal were previously linked with Alvarez as potential support for Viktor Gyokeres, but with Real Madrid’s withdrawal, Barcelona’s path to signing the Argentinian forward appears clearer. The situation with Olise remains complex, but Real Madrid’s unwavering interest suggests they are prepared to invest significantly to secure his signature.
