Real Madrid will no longer have buy-back option for Liverpool-bound former academy star – Romano | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s involvement in Victor Munoz’s move to Liverpool has become one of the more intriguing subplots of the summer transfer window, particularly following conflicting reports regarding the club’s future rights over the player.

The Spanish winger is set to complete a high-profile transfer to Anfield after Liverpool moved to beat Newcastle United in the race for his signature. 

With the Premier League giants triggering his €40 million release clause and reaching an agreement with Osasuna, the deal is now entering its final stages.

However, questions have continued to circulate regarding what level of control Real Madrid still hold over the player’s future.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, it appears that some of the information being reported is inaccurate.

What’s the story?

Following reports suggesting that Real Madrid retained a buy-back clause as part of Munoz’s transfer to the Premier League, Romano has now provided a very different explanation.

Victor Munoz will play for Liverpool. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

The journalist states that Los Blancos do not possess any buy-back option that would allow them to automatically bring the player back in the future.

Instead, Real Madrid’s protection comes through a right of first refusal mechanism.

This means that if Liverpool decide to sell Munoz in the future and another club submits an acceptable offer, Real Madrid would have the opportunity to match those terms before a transfer is completed.

Even then, however, the final decision would remain with the player.

In practical terms, Real Madrid have maintained a degree of influence over Munoz’s future without retaining the direct control that a traditional buy-back clause would provide.

Liverpool move delivers major financial boost

While Real Madrid may no longer have a route to automatically re-sign the winger, the club has still benefited significantly from the transfer.

Real Madrid will lose their buy-back options for Victor Munoz. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

Having retained 50% of the player’s economic rights when he left the club for Osasuna, Real Madrid are entitled to receive half of the €40 million transfer fee being paid by Liverpool.

That translates into a substantial €20 million boost for the Spanish giants without having to negotiate directly with either Liverpool or Osasuna.

The new arrangement could still prove valuable

Although the absence of a buy-back clause may disappoint some, the agreement still leaves Real Madrid in a favourable position.

A right of first refusal is not as powerful as a buy-back option, but it ensures Real Madrid remain connected to the player’s future development. 

If Munoz explodes into a star at Liverpool and eventually becomes available on the market again, the Spanish club will have an opportunity to enter the conversation before other interested teams complete a deal.