Real Madrid has developed an interest in a midfielder who reportedly had a verbal agreement to join Manchester United during the summer transfer window, as indicated by a Spanish report, revealing Los Blancos’ audacious plan to acquire him for the Santiago Bernabeu.
Manchester United and Real Madrid are among the largest football clubs globally and are recognized as prominent brands. Both clubs were active during the summer transfer window, striving to recover from the disappointments of the previous season and to ensure a successful campaign for 2025/26.
Madrid successfully acquired Dean Huijsen, Alvaro Carreras, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Franco Mastantuono, while Manchester United’s manager Ruben Amorim brought in Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Senne Lammens, and Diego Leon over the summer.
Additionally, Manchester United expressed interest in securing a midfielder during the summer transfer window, with Javi Guerra being one of their potential targets.
Journalist Daniele Longo even asserted on X that Manchester United had reached a verbal agreement with Guerra regarding a transfer to Old Trafford during the summer transfer window.
The CalcioMercato reporter, who has almost 150,000 followers on X, at 10:51pm on July 17: “Topic Javi Guerra: the Spain midfielder heading towards a no to renewal with Valencia.
“He has a verbal agreement with Man Utd, agreement between the clubs still pending.
“Two other inquiries from Spain and England. Milan still at the June contacts, working slowly on Jashari.”
Manchester United ultimately failed to secure the signing of Guerra, who has extended his contract with Valencia until the summer of 2029.
Recent reports from Spanish media indicate that Real Madrid has developed an interest in Guerra and plans to observe the 22-year-old midfielder this summer.
Defensa Central, a website focused on Real Madrid, has disclosed that the club’s chief scout, Juni Calafat, will keep an eye on Guerra over the coming months and will make a determination regarding his future in 2026.
The report highlights that Guerra’s new contract includes a release clause of €100 million (£86.5 million, $117 million), but Valencia ‘would be willing’ to sell the young talent for half that amount due to their ‘financial difficulties’.
Real Madrid plan Javi Guerra – Dani Ceballos swap deal
Even for a club as large and affluent as Real Madrid, the decision to pay €100m (£86.5m, $117m) or even half that amount for a 22-year-old midfielder is not made lightly.
According to a different report from Defensa Central, Madrid is eager to exchange Guerra for Ceballos.
Ceballos does not play a significant role in the plans of Madrid manager Xabi Alonso and is set to be out of contract with the Spanish and European powerhouses in the summer of 2027.
The challenge for Real Madrid is that currently, neither Valencia nor Ceballos is willing to agree to such a swap arrangement.
For Valencia owner Peter Lim, it is more crucial to sell Guerra for cash rather than engage in a direct exchange.
Juventus has shown interest in Ceballos, with Italian media indicating that the Serie A club will keep an eye on the former Arsenal loanee in the upcoming months.
Ceballos had the opportunity to join Marseille during the summer transfer window, but the Spanish midfielder opted to remain with Los Blancos.
Latest Real Madrid news: Ibrahima Konate update, Tottenham name price
Trusted journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed Liverpool’s plans for a new contract for Ibrahima Konate, who is the subject of intense interest from Real Madrid.
Real Madrid have taken a shine to a French winger that Liverpool wanted to sign in the summer transfer window but decided against bringing him in after securing the services of Alexander Isak from Newcastle United.
Tottenham Hotspur have named their price for a superstar that Real Madrid have taken a shine to.
Who is Javi Guerra?
Javi Guerra is an elegant yet powerful midfielder, who oozes class and composure on the ball and has the power and stamina to travel box-to-box all game, covering a high amount of ground and being effective in all phases. At 6ft 2in, Guerra has a real presence but it’s his technique that’s most impressive.
As a rangy Spanish midfielder at that height, people’s lazy comparisons would be to Sergio Busquets, or the fact he’s called Javi could make them think of Javi Martínez. But in actual fact he’s much more mobile than both of them. A true athlete.
Guerra is such a strong ball-carrier. Despite his lanky frame, he has quick feet and is a good dribbler in tight spaces. He is smooth in the way he carries the ball. He just glides past the opposing midfield in style, often using ball rolls or acute movements like flicks to turn past them.
He adds verticality to Valencia’s midfield through his ability to powerfully drive up-field and take on players to help Valencia enter the final third.
One of Guerra’s most impressive abilities is his long-range shooting. On both his right and left foot he has scored some top-quality goals with great precision and power. His long legs allow him to generate more power when striking the ball.
As a Spanish midfielder, it’s not a surprise to see how good Guerra’s passing ability is – particularly his long passing. Guerra has a good technique on clipped passes and crosses. When wide or in the half-spaces he can be a source of quality crosses to create chances.
Guerra has good positioning as he often is in the right place out of position to provide a mid-block or anticipate passes but specifically when tackling. He doesn’t go to ground often because he’s usually positioned well and doesn’t need to. But when he does, he times his tackles well.
Physically Guerra is strong in duels too, especially as he’s got such a tall frame. He does lack aggression and intensity in duels though, he’s almost too nice off the ball at times. As he develops this, he’ll be even better defensively.
Guerra is a calm, composed player in both his personality and play-style. This level-headedness and composure enables him to have good decision-making on the pitch. Hopefully this translates off the pitch and he gets the timing and the destination of his next move right.
Leave a Reply