Real Madrid reach verbal agreement with Serie A side over academy defender’s transfer | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s young academy stars have been central in the ongoing summer transfer window, forming a major revenue stream through transfer fees for the club.

While Los Blancos have indeed profited well through windfalls earned on second-order transfers of former academy graduates, several of the academy’s current proteges have also attracted interest from domestic and international circuits.

Victor Valdepenas is one such young talent who has been linked with a move to Serie A for a while now but whose departure Jose Mourinho reportedly blocked with the intention of taking a closer look at him in pre-season.

A change in plan

Now, as reported by Gianluca Di Marzio, there appears to be a change in Mourinho’s plan and the manager no longer intends to scout the player in the coming weeks.

Set to move to Italy. (Picture courtesy: Instagram/valdee.21)

Instead, Los Blancos have now reached a verbal agreement with Fiorentina over the transfer of the young defender and are closing in on permanently signing Valdepenas.

Real Madrid are pressing to keep 50% of the player’s rights, as they often do with academy stars, and are close to even securing their request. Only the final details remain to be ironed out.

One dilemma persists

Real Madrid reaching an agreement with Fiorentina outlines that the club indeed prioritise a departure for the young defender.

The Italian journalist, however, adds that one detail still curtails the successful completion of the operation.

Will Mourinho keep him for preseason? (Photo courtesy: Real Madrid official website)

Indeed, the one question on the mind of the club administration is whether or not to keep the player for the first part of pre-season as Mourinho initially requested. 

The idea is that the technical staff can take a closer look at the player for a few weeks if he stays for the opening part of the preparatory period, but there is also the option of immediately completing the transfer for which a verbal agreement has also been reached.

Needless to say, the final decision will again rest with Jose Mourinho who has already begun overseeing training sessions at the club.

A decision must be made soon, and may well stem from what Valdepenas shows in the coming days if he is in Mourinho’s dynamics.