It was quite a coup bringing Sergio Reguilon to Tottenham over the summer. The 23-year-old was named best left-back in La Liga while on loan at Sevilla last season, but he was sold by Real Madrid due to stiff competition from Marcelo and Ferland Mendy. Reguilon has impressed early on for us, and AS (h/t Sport Witness) say Real want to bring him back to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Why?
AS say Marcelo’s poor form and lack of playing time this season is why Real are considering replacing him. The 32-year-old no longer commands a starting place (2/5 appearances in La Liga) and hasn’t set the place alight when he has featured.
Marcelo was an unused substitute in Real’s 0-0 draw with Real Sociedad (September 20), missed the 3-2 win over Real Betis (September 26) due to a back injury, played a full 90 minutes in the 1-0 win over Real Valladolid (September 30), was an unused substitute in the 2-0 win over Levante (October 4) and played a full 90 minutes in the 1-0 defeat to Cadiz CF (October 17).
As for his successor Mendy, the French international has made 3/5 league appearances and helped Real picked up seven points from a possible nine. Los Blancos have also kept two clean sheets in those three games, so he’s been a good omen.
Marcelo has two years left on his deal in Madrid, but he may not see out his contract due to his decline. Reguilon looks good enough to replace him, and here’s how Real kept the door open to a return.
How?
AS say that Real sold Reguilon because they needed to balance the books, but they made sure a buyback clause was attached in case they wanted him back. Real will have to pay €10m more than how much we paid in mid-September, but it remains to be seen when a move would happen.
Reguilon surely wouldn’t be signed unless Marcelo was sold and it’s unlikely that the Brazilian international would end a 13-year stay at Real unless he had to. He’s still playing under Zidane, has two years left on his contract and won’t be pushed out.
Not such good business by Levy after all then, buyback Claus? What’s the point in buying if one year down the line your looking to replace a successful signing bloody senseless.