Premier League defender admits returning to Real Madrid ‘would be a dream’ | OneFootball

In an exclusive interview with Mundo Deportivo, AFC Bournemouth defender Alex Jimenez has admitted that he would love to secure a future return to his boyhood club Real Madrid.

The 20-year-old right-back spent over a decade at Real Madrid’s La Fabrica, before leaving for AC Milan in 2023, initially on a loan move, which was made permanent a year later.

After impressing in Italy, Jimenez was signed by Bournemouth last summer, on a loan deal, with a mandatory buy clause which was activated last week.

Considering that Real Madrid still retained a 50% future sell-on clause, they received a sizeable chunk of the transfer fee from the operation.

Jimenez has been impressing in his debut season in the Premier League with the Cherries. However, the youngster refused to close the doors on a future return to Real Madrid.

“Right now I’m focused on Bournemouth, on this season, but going back would be a dream for me because I grew up there and it’s the place where I learned what I am now,” said Jimenez about a hypothetical return to the Santiago Bernabeu.

“Right now, all I know is that I have a contract with Bournemouth and I’m very happy here,” he added, when asked if he was aware where he would be playing next season.

Alex Jimenez not ruling out a future return to Real Madrid. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Another former Real Madrid academy gem, linked with a return to the club, happens to be Nico Paz, who is shining at Como in Italy. And Jimenez believes that the Argentine is ready to move back to the Spanish capital club.

“Yes, he’s ready. He was very good last season and this season he’s taken another step forward. I’ve always liked him and I’d be very happy for him if he ends up returning to Madrid,” said the right-back.

Jimenez worked with current Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa during his time at La Fabrica.

“He knows how to manage the team well and has clear ideas about what he wants to do,” the 20-year-old defender said about the manager.

When asked about his role models and references, Jimenez named Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal and summer signing Trent Alexander-Arnold among the players he followed.

“I’ve always looked up to Carvajal because I spent many years at Real Madrid. Also Alexander-Arnold, Davies, and Theo Hernández, with whom I was lucky enough to play at AC Milan,” he said.