Real Madrid tried to sign on-loan Valencia forward in 2023 | OneFootball

On Sunday night, Real Madrid will take on Valencia away at Mestalla, aiming to secure all three points with a convincing performance.

It will be far from easy, considering that Los Blancos will be without some important players, such as Eder Militao, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr., and Rodrygo Goes.

The game at Mestalla will also bring the Spanish capital giants face-to-face against a player who they tried to sign not very long ago, according to AS.

Lucas Beltran could have been a Real Madrid player

Indeed, as per the report, Valencia forward Lucas Beltran, currently on loan from Fiorentina, could have become a Real Madrid player in 2023.

The 24-year-old Argentine striker, who has become an important player for Los Che under Carlos Corberan, since arriving on loan late last summer, was very much on the Merengues’ radars a few years ago, when he was still at River Plate.

Real Madrid wanted Lucas Beltran (L) in 2023. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)

Beltran’s eye for goal, coupled with his ability to play between the lines in the final third, had made him an attractive target for several clubs, including Real Madrid. However, the Argentine attacker decided to sign for Fiorentina instead.

In an interview in 2024, Beltran confirmed the same, saying: “Roma, Fiorentina, and Real Madrid contacted me. I chose Florence because I felt it was right. One day I woke up and told my brother, ‘I want to go to Fiorentina.’” 

Further shedding light on his reason to sign for Fiorentina, the forward added: “When Argentinians talk about Fiorentina or Florence, Batistuta immediately comes to mind. And many other Argentinians who played here.

“For me, it’s a great honor to be here, to wear Batistuta’s jersey number.” 

Tomorrow, Beltran will face Real Madrid – the team that could have been his. The striker goes into the match against Los Blancos with one goal and two assists in La Liga. In the Copa del Rey, he has scored two more goals.