Real Madrid secure sale of 23-year-old forward but retain 50% sell-on fee | OneFootball

Real Madrid have closed a deal with Real Valladolid for the sale of Juanmi Latasa. The imposing target man leaves Los Blancos after eight years at the club, having arrived at the age of 15.

Latasa rose through the youth ranks at Valdebebas and played at Castilla for two seasons, making a single nine-minute appearance for the senior side, picking up a Liga winners’ medal for it. He has spent the last two seasons on loan at Getafe, managing 7 goals in his 57 appearances.

Los Blancos will make €5m on the deal from Latasa, who signs a five-year deal with La Pucela. Real Madrid will retain a 50% sell-on fee, giving them an edge if they want to bring him back.

He adds an imposing target man to Paulo Pezzolano’s options up front, with four strikers currently in the squad. Youngster Israel Salazar, Latasa, Brazilian forward Marcos Andre and Mamadou Sylla will all compete for a spot as Valladolid seek survival. While Latasa does not have a track record of goals in Primera, Pezzolano will be desperate for him to find his scoring boots, as Sylla was their top-scoring striker last season with just eight goals.