StadiumPosts Logo
Stay upto date with notifications from Stadiumposts
Notifications can be managed in browser preferences

TRANSFER EXCLUSIVE: NICO SCHLOTTERBECK TO REAL MADRID GATHERS PACE IN HUGE €70M DEAL

Real Madrid eyes Nico Schlotterbeck for a 2026 move as interest in Konate cools, and Upamecano stays at Bayern. BVB demands €70m.

Transfer Exclusive: Nico Schlotterbeck To Real Madrid Gathers Pace In Huge €70M Deal
Schlotterbeck Is The Perfect Long-Term Heir To Antonio Rüdiger’s Throne

Real Madrid’s plan for their defence is finally starting to take shape, and now a familiar Bundesliga name is grabbing their attention. Word from BILD is that Nico Schlotterbeck landing at the Santiago Bernabeu isn’t just a rumour anymore—things are lining up on both sides, and talks are getting serious.

Borussia Dortmund would rather see their German international defender move abroad than to a domestic rival, and they’ve put a price tag north of €50 million on him. For Real Madrid, that’s actually a plus. The club has no problem spending big on defenders who fit into their long-term plans instead of chasing short-term solutions.

Honestly, Madrid needs a centre-back. It’s been an open secret for a while—they’re set to hit the market at the end of the season. Injuries, ageing players, possible departures... the recruitment team’s been busy weighing a bunch of top-tier options.

Up until lately, most of the talk focused on Ibrahima Konate and Dayot Upamecano. But things have changed. Konate, who used to be high on their list, is raising eyebrows now. There are questions about his consistency and whether he really fits, so excitement about him has cooled off.

Then there’s Upamecano. His future with Bayern Munich looks locked in, so Madrid isn’t really considering him anymore.

That leaves Schlotterbeck. His situation stands out. He’s under contract with Dortmund until 2027, and so far, there’s no deal to extend. Time’s ticking, and with no progress in talks, people in Germany expect he’ll leave by summer 2026.

Dortmund have tried to tie him down for the long haul—they know how much he matters to the team, on the field and in the locker room. But lately, it feels like Schlotterbeck has already decided to take the next step in his career. That’s why the rumours connecting him to Real Madrid have suddenly started to feel a lot more real.

FUTURE CORE: HOW JOAO NEVES AND VITINHA COULD REBUILD REAL MADRID’S MIDFIELD

Real Madrid eye Joao Neves: Read about the €160m PSG raid, Vitinha’s €100m clause, and the shock Courtois news regarding Trent.

top-news
Real Madrid Face A €260m Bill For PSG’s Duo

Real Madrid aren’t just eyeing Vitinha from PSG anymore; they’re now interested in bringing in his teammate Joao Neves as well. That’s according to a new report, which also says that Madrid hasn't lost sight of Rodri from Manchester City, even if that deal looks tough.

Madrid has been after Vitinha for a while. He’s the kind of midfielder who can dictate play and control the game from the centre. Lately, Spanish media have been buzzing about Madrid getting ready to make a huge offer of around €100 million for him. Supposedly, Vitinha has a private agreement that lets him leave PSG if someone puts that kind of money on the table.

But now, Sports Boom claims Madrid have set their sights on Neves, too. Apparently, the club sees him as the missing piece in their plan to rebuild the midfield. Scouts have already told the board that he’s a must-sign. Now, it’s up to Florentino Pérez to figure out if Madrid will go all-in.

It won’t be easy, though. PSG just won the league and the Champions League; they’re not looking to part ways with Neves. If Madrid wants him, they’ll need to cough up somewhere between €150 and €160 million. Neves only joined PSG from Benfica last summer, and he’s under contract until 2029.

He’s already made an impact: 13 goals and 12 assists in 83 games for PSG. This season alone, the 21-year-old has started 11 times in Ligue 1 and six times in the Champions League.

Switching gears, Real Madrid is also keeping an eye on Adam Wharton from Crystal Palace, according to Fraser Fletcher, their transfer correspondent. And Liverpool? They’re apparently preparing a massive bid for one of Madrid’s own rising stars, but there’s no word yet if Madrid will actually let him go.

And just when you thought things couldn’t get any wilder, a Spanish report claims Thibaut Courtois wants Madrid to move on from Trent Alexander-Arnold, who just arrived from Liverpool in 2025. The drama never really stops at the Bernabéu.

THE ARBELOA STANCE: WHY REAL MADRID’S COACH DEMANDS A HISTORIC PRECEDENT FOR VINICIUS JR

Action needed: Discover why Alvaro Arbeloa is challenging UEFA to punish Gianluca Prestianni and support Vinicius Jr. in Madrid.

top-news
Arbeloa challenges UEFA to move beyond slogans after Lisbon's racial incident

Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa wants to see UEFA back up its anti-racism talk with real action after forward Vinicius Jr said he was racially abused during last week’s Champions League match in Lisbon.

The incident happened during the first leg of the knockout round against Benfica. Vinicius, who scored the game’s only goal, says Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni targeted him with racist abuse soon after he found the net.

Prestianni, a 20-year-old winger from Argentina, denies it. Still, UEFA hit him with a one-game provisional suspension, so he’ll miss the return leg in Madrid on Wednesday.

“This is a big chance to actually move the fight against racism forward,” Arbeloa told reporters on Tuesday. “UEFA’s always talked a good game about this issue, but now they can show they mean it. I hope they don’t just stick to slogans and banners this time.”

Vinicius, 25, picked up a yellow card for celebrating his goal in front of Benfica’s fans. Benfica manager Jose Mourinho later accused him of being disrespectful and stirring up the crowd.

But Real Madrid’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois pushed back. He said Vinicius’s celebration was nothing out of the ordinary and that it never justifies racist abuse.

“Mourinho’s going to defend his club and his player; that’s normal,” Courtois said. “What bothers me is blaming Vini’s celebration. He didn’t do anything wrong. Opponents celebrate in front of us all the time, especially when they score. It happens, and we move on. There’s no excuse for racism, period.”

Arbeloa called Vinicius a “fighter” and said he’s sure the Brazilian will prove himself on the pitch at the Bernabeu.

“Vini Junior has always had guts and personality,” Arbeloa said. “Honestly, I don’t know how anyone else would handle what he’s faced. He’s always stood tall, and that’s just how he is. He’ll show up tomorrow ready to fight, ready to show he’s one of the world’s best.”

The first match was stopped for ten minutes after Vinicius told the referee what happened, and Real Madrid’s players walked off the field for a bit. There were also reports of racist gestures from fans in the stands at Benfica’s stadium. UEFA says Prestianni could face more punishment once their ethics inspector finishes a full investigation.

On the Benfica side, club president Rui Costa stood by Prestianni and confirmed they’re appealing the suspension.

“I wasn’t on the pitch to hear what was said, but you can imagine how heated things get,” Costa told reporters at Lisbon airport. “We trust our player. He’s being labelled a racist, and I can promise you he’s nothing of the sort. That's why we have faith in him.”

Mourinho, who’s been criticised for his comments, won’t speak at the usual pre-match press conference.

Costa added, “We’ve appealed because nothing’s been proven, so there’s no real reason Prestianni should miss this game.”

Premier League Standings

WhatsApp Read More News