Real Madrid Have Set Their Sights On This AC Milan Defender: Good Choice For Los Blancos? | OneFootball

In a recent report, Bild mentioned that Real Madrid have set their sights on AC Milan defender Malick Thiaw this summer. It has been claimed that Los Blancos are pushing hard to acquire the services of the German centre-half later this year.

Thiaw’s Impressive Run Of Form In Serie A

Thiaw is having a solid campaign at San Siro after he put in a run of impressive performances at the heart of AC Milan’s backline. The German talent has been involved in 26 matches for the Italian outfit this season, picking up one assist on all fronts.

The 22-year-old has been a rock at the back and deserves some credit for averaging 1.2 tackles, 0.7 interceptions and 2.5 clearances per game in Serie A. He has even been accurate when distributing the ball from inside his half based on his pass completion rate of 91.1% in the top tier of Italian football (stats via whoscored).

His current contract at the Milan club will run out in the summer of 2027 which would make it tough for Los Blancos to get a deal done for him in the upcoming transfer window.

MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 25: Gianluca Scamacca of Atalanta BC is challenged by Malick Thiaw of AC Milan during the Serie A TIM match between AC Milan and Atalanta BC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on February 25, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Is Thiaw A Good Choice For Real Madrid?

Thiaw is a solid tackler of the ball and can scan the danger well to secure the ball back for his team on the defensive end of the field. He doesn’t mind putting his foot through the ball when needed and is even proficient at playing his way out from inside his half.

Standing at 1.94m, Thiaw can even use his strong frame to dominate the opposition attackers in the air. We can expect him to add more bite and steel to Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti’s backline.

Thiaw is primarily a central defender but can also fill in as a right-back if asked to do so. At 22, he has the potential to become a world-class player in his position someday. Hence, Thiaw would be an excellent choice for the Madrid giants to pursue at the end of this season. He is good enough to help Los Blancos challenge for some major honours over the next decade. However, only time will tell whether the German sensation can make a smooth transition to life in Spain.