Real Madrid will move for Valencia defender Nicolas Otamendi if the Sergio Ramos situation ends with the centre-back’s departure.
Marca name the Argentine as Los Blancos’ first choice to replace Ramos, who reportedly asked to leave Santiago Bernabeu and is the subject of a big-money offer from Manchester United.
Otamendi’s people know of Madrid’s interest and have paused talks with a Premier League club as a result, preferring to wait and see if a move to Madrid becomes a genuine possibility, Marca add.
Valencia inserted a €50m release clause in Otamendi’s contract but the Madrid hierarchy is said to consider Otamendi to be of a similar character to Ramos, Marca describing Otamendi as ‘the perfect replacement.’
Otamendi’s agent, Eugenio Lopez, has made it clear his client wants to quit Mestalla this summer and there were on Wednesday reports of a meeting between Otamendi and Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini.
Valencia’s attempts to adhere to UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules would be boosted by receiving big money for Otamendi, Marca point out, but they have previously insisted on their desire to retain the defender
