Manchester United set sights on €120 million-rated Real Madrid midfield mainstay | OneFootball

Following the chaos in the dressing room last week, Real Madrid are not ruling out the sale of key midfielder and second captain Federico Valverde.

The 27-year-old Uruguayan international was the instigator of the issue that snowballed into a fight with fellow midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni.

While Real Madrid have hit both players with a hefty €500,000 fine, they are believed to be far from pleased with Valverde’s behaviour in particular, potentially opening the doors for a summer exit.

Manchester United eye Valverde

Now, according to the Daily Mirror in England (h/t AS), Manchester United are hoping to capitalise on the unrest in the Real Madrid locker room and make a move for Valverde in the summer.

The Red Devils are already looking at Tchouameni as a potential replacement for Real Madrid legend Casemiro, who is leaving Old Trafford at the end of the season.

Valverde on Manchester United’s radar. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

Now, it is being suggested that the Premier League giants have also added Valverde to their shortlist for the summer.

Valverde is under contract at Real Madrid until 2029 and remains a key player for the team despite the recent controversies.

So far this term, he has made 48 appearances in all competitions, recording nine goals and 13 assists in the process.

Only earlier today, the 27-year-old was named in the La Liga Team of the Season for 2025/26, along with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Tchouameni, and Thibaut Courtois.

So, any move for Valverde in the summer is unlikely to come cheap. However, Manchester United are keeping a close eye on the situation, hoping to pounce if Real Madrid open the doors to his sale in the summer.

*Player valuation in title obtained from transfermarkt.com on date of publication.