It’s claimed Real Madrid will sell Fabio Coentrao and look to replace him with Wolfsburg’s Ricardo Rodriguez.
A report from Marca says Switzerland international Rodriguez is on Los Blancos’ agenda, Coentrao having lost the faith of the club due to injury and fitness problems and inconsistent performances.
Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain have long been admirers of the Portuguese and Madrid may invite offers, while a return to Benfica is an option, although his €2.5m-a-year wages would be obstructive.
Jose Luis Gaya was wanted by Madrid to replace Coentrao but he re-signed with Valencia, while the likes of David Alaba, Alex Sandro and Rahman Baba are also mentioned by Marca. Sandro and Baba were ruled out by Madrid as the squad has no non-EU spaces remaining.
Rodriguez is said to have been on Madrid’s radar for the past two years and he has been scouted extensively, while there is a friendship between Florentino Perez and his Wolfsburg counterpart Francisco Garcia Sanz, a Spaniard, employee of Wolfsburg’s parent company Volkswagen and Real Madrid supporter.
But Rodriguez is under a long-term contract, until 2019, and is one of Wolfsburg’s best-paid players at €4m-a-season. A fee of €30m could be required but Marca say Madrid will push for the player if he is requested by Rafa Benitez.
