Real Betis star drops big Real Madrid transfer hint | OneFootball

Real Betis wing-back Junior Firpo has revealed his long-held admiration for Real Madrid.

Earlier this week, Spanish outlet AS reported that Madrid were prepared to pay Junior’s €50m release clause to bring him to the capital in the summer, while Arsenal and Manchester City are both understood to be keeping tabs on the Dominican-born defender.

And now the 22-year-old appears to have issued a thinly veiled come-and-get-me plea to Los Blancos.

“I’m closer to Real Madrid as my father is a Madridista,” he told Spanish TV channel Cuatro.

“We watched them on TV when we first arrived in Spain and for that reason I’ve always felt stronger about them.”

Junior only made his first-team debut for Betis in February this year but has since made 33 appearances and earned a reputation as one to watch in LaLiga.

Madrid are reportedly on the look-out for a long-term replacement for 30-year-old Marcelo, and Spain U21 international Junior could fit the bill.

The player is under contract at Benito Villamarín until June 2023 after signing a bumper extension to his deal in August.