A pleasant surprise for the Royal. The City star is offered to Real Madrid and Barcelona is also out.

Movement began early in the corridors of Real Madrid in preparation for the summer transfer market, and with the club needing to strengthen several positions after a difficult season, new names appeared at the management table.

As reported by the Spanish newspaper AS, the Croatian Josko Guardioli was offered to Real Madrid in the current period, a surprising step in the Royal Club, especially since the football player is considered one of the most popular defenders in Europe in recent years.

The newspaper clarified that Real Madrid is already among its priorities to strengthen the defensive line in the upcoming transfer market, particularly the central defender position, but the club’s management did not expect this move from a player of Guardioli’s caliber.

Real Madrid had tracked the player from his glittering spell with Dinamo Zagreb, before moving to Leipzig for €36m in 2021 and then leaving for Manchester City in the summer of 2023 for €90m, which kept the Spanish club away from a deal at the time.

The 23-year-old Croatian defender has had a difficult season with a leg bone injury that kept him sidelined for a long time following surgery last January and has yet to return to action.

The report suggested that Guardiol could miss the World Cup, although the final decision has yet to be decided as the Croatia coach is waiting until the last minute before announcing his final squad.

AS added that the player’s agents have begun scouting potential destinations in anticipation of any move in the summer, with Real Madrid believed to be one of the Croatian defender’s favorite clubs, despite there being no official talks yet.

The newspaper noted that Guardiol had previously scored at the Santiago Bernabeu when he scored with a powerful right-footed shot from outside the area, despite being his weaker foot.

In the same context, AS confirmed that Portuguese Bernardo Silva has also been offered to Real Madrid as he looks for a new destination in the coming period, especially as Barcelona refuse to consider the player a priority at the moment.