Inter make 'first moves' in approach for forgotten Real Madrid talent
- Arda Guler remains on the fringes at Real Madrid this season
- Inter showing interest in versatile attacking player
- Serie A leaders consider Turkey star transfer 'Plan B'
Inter are reported to be keeping tabs on Real Madrid youngster Arda Guler, who has grown frustrated over a lack of opportunities this season.
Madrid made a big statement of intent with regard to Guler when they paid above the release clause in his Fenerbahce contract to sign him in the summer of 2023.
The Turkish talent endured an injury-plagued start to his time at the Bernabeu, delaying his debut until the second half of the campaign. But he finished the season in blistering form, scoring five goals in five La Liga appearances, before enjoying a fine Euro 2024.
Instead of kicking on, the versatile winger and midfielder has been a fringe player. Guler's most consistent chance has come in the Copa del Rey and he has been afforded just 69 minutes in La Liga this calendar year, typically staying an unused substitute.
That has seemingly led Inter to sense a potential opportunity in the transfer market.
Corriere dello Sport writes that Inter have made the "first moves" regarding Guler, gauging his interest in a San Siro switch by initiating contact with his representatives. The response is said to have been positive, with the player wanting to avoid a repeat of 2024/25 at Madrid.
Guler is described as Inter's "Plan B" alternative to primary interest in Como's playmaker Nico Paz - another waifish wonderkid with connections to the Spanish capital.
An approach for Paz is not necessarily straightforward, though. The 20-year-old Argentina international, who has 12 Serie A goal involvements to his name in a Como side unlikely to finish in the top half, is still tied to Real Madrid via a buyback clause.
Paz left Madrid for Como in a permanent transfer last summer, but his former club retain the option to bring him back for a fixed €9m. That figure increases by €1m each year until 2027.
Even if Madrid don't plan to use Paz themselves, it is feasible that they could capitalise on his Como breakout by re-signing him anyway, in order to sell on to the highest bidder for profit.
The club went through something similar with Alvaro Morata in 2016, activating a buyback clause to reclaim the striker from Juventus. Although an eventual sale to Chelsea wasn’t completed until the following year, the transfer fee more than doubled Madrid's investment.
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