Real Madrid willing to sell star defender due to Rodrygo wish - report

Real Madrid are prepared to sell Brazilian centre-back Eder Militao this summer, according to a report.

The defender missed over seven months of the 2023/24 campaign after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament back in August and has started only five games since returning to matchday selection in late March.

Antonio Rudiger has impressed as a mainstay in Carlo Ancelotti's defence, while club captain Nacho Fernandez has filled in well after David Alaba suffered a season-ending ACL injury of his own in December.

Now, according to Mundo Deportivo, former Porto star Militao could be shipped out during the summer transfer window, with Los Blancos' management impressed by Aurelien Tchouameni's performances as a stop-gap in central defence.

The report claims Madrid's willingness to let the 26-year-old depart comes from their desire to keep forward Rodrygo. The Brazilian has courted controversy in recent weeks by hinting at a Bernabeu exit at some point in the future, though he later moved to clarify those comments, claiming they had been taken "out of context".

With Kylian Mbappe expected to arrive in the summer and take some of Rodrygo's minutes, it has been suggested that Madrid could drop Tchouameni into defence more regularly which, alongside Toni Kroos' impending retirement, could see both Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde take on more restrained roles in the seasons to come.

That would free up more space and time for Rodrygo, who played a pivotal role in Madrid's 2021/22 Champions League success with goals in dramatic aggregate victories over Chelsea and Manchester City.

Tchouameni has played ten games at centre-back across La Liga and the Champions League, including the 3-3 draw with Manchester City in the quarter-finals and the 3-2 Clasico victory over Barcelona last month.

However, the France international will play no part in Saturday's European final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley Stadium due to injury.

READ THE LATEST REAL MADRID NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS & GOSSIP