Real Madrid's Favorite Central Defender for 2025: Florentino Points to Him as the Heir

Real Madrid has several dilemmas to solve in the upcoming transfer market. At least for the first team, any planned moves at the Valdebebas offices will happen during the summer window. There's no need now, according to the club's coaching staff, to make any additions: Carlo Ancelotti wouldn't agree with that statement.

However, the time that the club's leaders have until the 2025 summer will be useful  to evaluate the candidates on the list of potential transfers. One of the most notable is Castello Lukeba, but his high transfer price could dramatically reduce his chances in seven months... unless there are renegotiation options.

In their search for Nacho Fernández's successor, a historic central defender from the club, Florentino seems to have pointed to another Spanish and academy player. The name of Mario Gila returns to the discussions of the club's executives as a possible transfer to strengthen the heart of Madrid's defense. His good performances at Lazio have caught attention.

The focus on Gila isn't just from Real Madrid, as other Serie A clubs have also inquired about his availability. Wanting to get ahead of those players, Real Madrid is already considering the transfer of the Spanish player to replace Nacho Fernández.

Another name

The constant debates within Real Madrid about the issue of central defenders have several explanations. One of the most common is the absence of a strong candidate, unlike in other positions. For instance, the right-back position has Trent Alexander-Arnold, while for the pivot, they've focused on Martín Zubimendi.

This absence of a 'number one' on the list of potential central defenders is what allows Mario Gila to enter the debate with great strength. Besides his qualities as a defensive player, his candidacy  would be strengthened  by the fact that he's a Spanish player.

Recently, Real Madrid wants to regain lost ground in the Spanish national team. That's why they've focused on transfer national players, like Martín Zubimendi or Mario Gila himself. Their place of origin, along with their training at La Fábrica, leaves the economic issue as the only unknown.

The market value of Mario Gila is set at 28 million euros and he has a contract with Lazio until 2027. This time limit, along with a valuation below 30 million, could lead the Italian club to request around 50 million euros as a transfer fee. The figure would fit within the club's expectations, matching the maximum limit that the club's executives would be willing to spend on transfer a central defender for 2025.