Real Madrid offer €3 million plus player in exchange for La Liga veteran – report | OneFootball

Real Madrid new manager Xabi Alonso wants the club to sign a centre-forward this summer, preferably someone with the same profile as former striker Joselu.

The veteran Spaniard enjoyed a fruitful 2023/24 campaign after arriving from Espanyol, providing a different type of threat in the penalty box compared to the forwards that Los Blancos already have.

As such, Alonso wants to have a forward of his profile in the squad heading into the new season. To that end, Osasuna goalscorer Ante Budimir has been identified as one of the targets by Real Madrid.

Opening offer tabled

In fact, as per Defensa Central, Real Madrid have already made their first move in the effort to sign Ante Budimir from Osasuna.

According to the report, Los Blancos have submitted an offer worth €3 million plus a youth player in exchange for the striker who starred in La Liga last season bagging 21 goals and three more in Copa del Rey.

Budimir scored 24 goals in 2024/25. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

Budimir has a release clause worth €8 million in his contract and Real Madrid’s offer falls well short of that.

However, the Merengues hope to make up for the difference by offering one of their youth players such as Jacobo Ramon or Lorenzo Aguado as makeweight in the operation.

But the report states that Real Madrid would like to insert a buyback option for the player that they do offer to Osasuna.

Budimir, for his part, would reportedly be ‘delighted’ to wear the Real Madrid shirt. Set to turn 34 in a few weeks, the Croatian striker would be willing to accept a reduced role similar to what Joselu had at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Osasuna, for their part, regard the veteran forward very highly and believe he still has a number of years left at the top level. So, it remains to be seen if they are willing to accept Real Madrid’s offer or play hardball.