According to MARCA, Real Madrid can sign a $65 million defender for free or at a discounted rate.

Leny Yoro is a transfer target for Real Madrid; he could be available for free a year from now or at a reduced cost this summer from Lille, according to MARCA.

The Spanish newspaper revealed on Monday how the 18-year-old was discovered by Madrid as they were looking for a central defender.

In light of the severe ACL injuries sustained by David Alaba and Eder Militao this season, head coach Carlo Ancelotti was recently forced to refute allegations that he ought to have pushed for reinforcements during the January transfer window instead.

Due to a less serious injury, Antonio Rudiger—who is playing at his best and has emerged as a goal threat—was out for Sunday’s Madrid derby for Los Blancos.

In the end, it was evident how little height this development brought about. In the Bernabeu, Brahim Diaz gave the home team a 1-0 lead, but Marcos Llorente, a former member of Real Madrid’s development program, equalized with a header in stoppage time.

Madrid is looking to strengthen the back like for the 2024–2025 season, even if the window has closed.

Yoro’s availability has apparently been questioned, and a $64.5 million (€60 million) price tag has turned away a Madrid team that needs to figure out how to pay Kylian Mbappe, whose salaries were said to be $90 million on the field in Forbes’ most recent list of the World’s Highest-Paid Soccer Players.

However, this predicament has brought some relief, raising the possibility that Yoro may soon set foot on Spanish territory.

On June 30, 2025, the young player will become a free agent. Madrid may decide to wait another 15 months or so before acquiring him, as they seem to be about to do with Mbappe.

However, it is also said that Yoro will not extend their contract with Lille, which would give them leverage at the negotiating table to bring up the $65 million charge.

Under these conditions, Madrid has the upper hand and might propose a lower price to Lille, allowing the Ligue 1 team to at least profit from a player who has been a part of it since he was twelve years old.