Carlo Ancelotti has given green light for defensive reinforcement at Real Madrid

Real Madrid’s squad is settled for this summer according to manager Carlo Ancelotti, but if the chance comes up to strengthen the squad, he will not be the one getting in the way. Aymeric Laporte is one of the names that has been most heavily linked with Los Blancos.

Laporte is on the shortlist at Atletico Madrid, and would love to return to Spain or Europe this summer. At Valdebebas it is said that Los Blancos would only move for an ‘opportunity’ and in Laporte’s case, that means being available for free. Ancelotti at least has approved the signing of Laporte if it becomes a possibility.

He is currently in talks with Al-Nassr over rescinding his deal according to some outlets in Saudi Arabia, but Diario AS say this has been denied to them by their sources. The primary issue is that Laporte is due to earn €48m over the remaining two years of his deal, and Al-Nassr spent €27m on signing him from Manchester City last summer, thus they are clearly reluctant to allow the €51m already invested to go towards just a single season of his services.

The 30-year-old showed at Euro 2024 that he can still do it against the best, and after missing out on Leny Yoro, Ancelotti reportedly asked the hierarchy at Real Madrid for another option. He accepts their stance, that they have enough to get by with Jesus Vallejo and Aurelien Tchouameni as alternatives, but would be open to his signing, and it’s worth noting he would be a left-sided central defender too, with David Alaba the only other centre-back fitting that description.