Zinedine Zidane has reportedly asked Real Madrid to prise Fabio Paratici away from Juventus this summer as he steps up his plans for the coming season.
According to Mediaset, Zidane is keen to have Paratici [pictured, left] as his sporting director after receiving “excellent” reports about the 43-year-old from friends at Juve, which has been enhanced by his work in the transfer market.
AS reports Paratici was the mastermind behind Paul Pogba’s and Kingsley Coman’s free transfers and Alvaro Morata’s move from Madrid in 2014, the latter of which could see the Italian champions in line for a €10m profit if Los Blancos activate their buyback option.
Consquently, Madrid are “gathering information” on Paratici, with President Florentino Perez having already spoken to Arrigo Sacchi and Ernesto Bronzetti as Zidane’s decision to stay on as Coach could hinge on the appointment of a sporting director.
The newspaper adds Madrid “have no sports planning beyond the impulses of Florentino at the times of his signings”.
Casemiro is Madrid’s only recognised holding midfielder as Asier Illarramendi was sold back to Real Sociedad for a €20m loss last summer, while Los Merengues lack a natural deputy to Marcelo at left-back.
