Real Madrid will pay release clause for Atletico's Gimenez
Real Madrid remain determined to sign Atletico Madrid’s Uruguayan defender Jose Maria Gimenez. Despite the fact the Rojiblanco have said they will break off all relations if they move for one of their players, Madrid’s main target for next season is the young centre-back, whose release clause stands at 60 million euros.
Florentino Perez does not have faith in the current crop of defenders at the Santiago Bernabeu. Pepe is now 33 and in the final stage of his career; Sergio Ramos has turned 30 and since signing his new deal has suffered a dip in form; and Raphael Varane, even though he’s expected to have a big future, has suffered from a lot of injury problems. The fourth central defender, Nacho Fernandez, could leave this summer.
Atletico would not even negotiate a deal for Gimenez. Along with Diego Godin, he forms part of arguably the best defensive tandem in Europe and the Colchonero are not ready to sell, believing he will very soon be considered one of the best defenders in the world.
The player’s representatives have kept themselves to the side of the speculation, although it’s likely that Madrid have already spoken to them in a bid to try to convince Gimenez to make the switch. The 21-year-old has a contract at the Vicente Calderon until 2018.
