Man Utd target would rather play for Real Madrid

Stuart Telford

• 25 Mar 2023 09:35 CDT
• 3 min read

Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga has been linked with Manchester United and Arsenal in recent months, but the player himself would rather join Real Madrid.

Veiga has emerged as one of the brightest young talents in La Liga this season, scoring nine goals and assisting three more from central midfield despite Celta only being halfway down the table in 10th.

With many of the top teams in Europe chasing Jude Bellingham next summer, Spain under-21 star Veiga is seen as a cheaper alternative who could have a similarly high ceiling, and United and Arsenal have both sent scouts to Galicia.

READ: Real Madrid told landing Arsenal target would be like 'signing Sergio Ramos'

But their advances could come to nothing with the player seeing his future at Real Madrid, according to Cadena SER.

Viega 'would rather play for Real Madrid'

"Premier League teams are willing to pay los Celestes' release clause, which is €40 million," they write. "[But] the player, before heading to the Premier League, will ask Real Madrid to match the offer. All other things being equal, he would rather play for los Blancos."

Veiga might be the only Real Madrid fan hoping the club don't sign Bellingham this summer, with Borussia Dortmund almost certainly set to part ways with the England international, for a fee likely in excess of €100m.

READ: Bellingham at €120M? Gabri Veiga is the cheaper alternative

Real have spent big on their midfield in recent seasons, agreeing to pay Monaco €100m for Aurelien Tchouameni whilst signing his France teammate Eduardo Camavinga from Rennes for €31m the previous August.

But there could be space for Veiga in the Spanish and European champions' midfield even if they signed Bellingham.

Casemiro was allowed to leave for Manchester United in an €80m following Tchouameni's arrival last summer, while Luke Modric and Toni Kroos are both out of contract at the end of the current campaign.

A guarantee of first-team football might be easier to achieve with Man Utd or Arsenal, but it would appear Real have the upper hand regardless.