Real Madrid's secret weapon in Alphonso Davies pursuit

Stuart Telford

Updated: 30 Mar 2024 16:38 CDT
3 min read

Alphonso Davies, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, 2023/24 — © IMAGO

Bayern Munich remain hopeful that Alphonso Davies will sign a new contract with them, but Real Madrid are lurking, and they could have an ace in the hole.

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Real are set to bolster their squad next summer, with Endrick's arrival from Palmeiras guaranteed and Kylian Mbappe's from Paris Saint-Germain looking increasingly likely, despite what Luis Enrique might claim.

But Real plan to strengthen in defence as well as attack, and they have long regarded Davies as the future best left-back in the world. Davies is also out of contract at Bayern in 2025, and has this far refused to negotiate new terms.

Former Bayern left-back David Alaba made the same journey from Bayern to Real in 2021, in his case on a free transfer, and his presence is said to be crucial to Davies' decision.

Europe's elite have been linked with Alphonso Davies.

Who should he sign for? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/xzOlkFOl6c
— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) November 16, 2023

Alaba 'a main motivator'

"Among the actors in the Davies case, David Alaba appears to be one of the main motivators for him to join Los Blancos," report Relevo's Javier Rodriguez and Jonathan Ramos. "He's been waxing lyrical about Real Madrid for months.

"The Austrian's messages to Davies have bothered Bayern, although the truth is that it was Davies who sounded Alaba out about life in Madrid, and not vice versa."

Alaba previously took Davies under his wing at Bayern, shifting inside to left centre-back and coaching the young Canadian through a positional change, Davies having been converted from winger to full-back after his arrival from Vancouver Whitecaps.

Davies agent recently slammed Bayern for giving his player a contract ultimatum amid the uncertainty at the club.

Sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic, who had previously negotiated all of Davies' contracts, was sacked as sporting director last May, and it is unclear who will be the next manager after Thomas Tuchel and the club agreed to part ways by mutual consent.