Carlo Ancelotti has reportedly requested for Real Madrid president Florentino Perez to sign Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and AC Milan star Rafael Leao in January.
With 2022 Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema turning 35 next month, Los Blancos are set to enter the transfer market in the New Year after failing to persuade Kylian Mbappe away from Paris Saint-Germain.
Ancelotti recently dismissed the possibility of adding to his squad in January, telling reporters at the end of last month: “We’re not thinking about the winter window. We’re not interested in it. This is the squad we’ll have until the end of the season. It won’t change.”
However, Sport, via the Daily Mail, reports that the Italian manager has pleaded with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez to sign both Leao and Osimhen when the transfer market reopens.
Leao, 23, has been a star player for Milan over the previous 18 months, earning the title of Serie A Player of the Season in 2021-22 after contributing 11 goals and 10 assists to the Scudetto champions.
Since then, the Portugal international has six goals and nine assists in 19 games across all competitions this season, and his strong performances are said to have piqued the interest of a number of prominent European clubs.
Ancelotti Wants Real Madrid To Sign Rafael Leao, Victor Osimhen
Ancelotti is believed to have prioritised Leao, although Real Madrid could face competition from Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester City.
Leao’s contract with San Siro expires in June 2024, and discussions over an extension are said to have broken down after the forward opted to change agents.
Milan are expected to demand a nine-figure fee for Leao if they decide to sell the attacker, and a recent report says that the Italian giants are bracing themselves for €120m (£105m) bids from both Chelsea and Manchester City in January.
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Meanwhile, Osimhen is on Ancelotti’s radar after proving himself as Napoli’s standout striker since joining the club from Lille in 2020.
The 23-year-old has 37 goals and 12 assists in 75 outings for the current Serie A leaders, with nine goals and three assists in 13 games this season.
Osimhen is reportedly garnering interest from Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur, but the Nigerian’s agent, Roberto Calenda, has played down rumours that his client is looking to leave Napoli.
Osimhen is under contract at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium until the summer of 2025, and Napoli are said to value the striker at more than the £70m they paid for him two years ago.
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