Football Today
·19 July 2023
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·19 July 2023
Real Madrid outcast Alvaro Odriozola is closing in on a return to Real Sociedad following an unremarkable five-year association with the Spanish giants, as per Relevo.
The 27-year-old full-back came up through the youth ranks at Sociedad before joining Los Blancos as a promising prospect in the summer of 2018.
However, he fell out of favour with the La Liga heavyweights two years after his arrival and has spent most of his association with the Santiago Bernabeu club on loan.
Odriozola’s most recent spell away from Madrid was with Fiorentina, where he made 27 appearances across all competitions – although it was not enough to convince them to keep him permanently.
The Spanish defender returned to the Bernabeu last season, but his fortunes did not change as he was reduced to just six competitive appearances for Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
Having failed to impress during his adventures since leaving his boyhood club, a return to Estadio Reale Arena is on the cards, with Sociedad keen to recapture his services.
Odriozola has agreed to personal terms with La Real, and all that stands between the defender and a return to his former club is an agreement with Madrid over an acceptable transfer fee.
The former Bayern Munich loanee has one year left on his contract with the record-time European champions, but they are more than willing to cut ties with the player this summer.
Sociedad are reluctant to pay a fee to land Odriozola and are trying to convince Madrid to let the player leave the Spanish capital on a free transfer.
Considering there is limited interest in the player this summer, Madrid could consider Sociedad’s proposal if they are desperate enough to get Odriozola off their books permanently.
UD Almeria have shown an interest, but they are also unwilling to pay a transfer fee while the player has been linked with a move to Juventus since Juan Cuadrado left Turin.
Sociedad have already signed 31-year-old right-back Hamari Traore from French club Stade Rennais on a free transfer, and Odriozola could be their second acquisition of the transfer window.