Real Madrid starlet Sergio Arribas looks set to depart the club this summer, and Los Blancos have now set his price tag as a lot of clubs register their interest.
The 21-year-old is regarded as one of the best players in the Castilla side, but as he gets older, there is a limited pathway to the first team, and it has now been decided that a sale within La Liga with 50% of his rights retained is the best move for him.
This means that Arribas will leave the club permanently, but if he performs well, Real can bring him back with a discounted fee. They have already had success with this type of deal with Fran Garcia, who returned to the Santiago Bernabeu after successfully developing at Rayo Vallecano.
Mario Cortegana has revealed in The Athletic that Real would prefer a sale within La Liga, and want €10m (£8.5m) for 50% of his rights, but would not rule out a loan to a club where he could thrive.
Where should Arribas go?
Girona seems to be a popular destination for Real Madrid’s Castilla stars, with left-back Miguel Gutierrez currently thriving there under manager Michel.
They could move for Arribas, having decided against re-signing Real Madrid star Reinier Jesus on loan as they want to free up a non-EU spot, and the Spaniard could be a good alternative as an attacking option.
Arribas can play both in midfield and upfront, and his end product at youth level has been sensational, scoring 40 and assisting 15 times in 92 Castilla appearances.
The signings of Arda Guler and Jude Bellingham have prevented him from gaining a chance at Real Madrid now, but if he succeeds within La Liga, he could earn himself a spot in the team in the future.
There are a number of La Liga teams who could benefit from having Arribas in their squad, but he should consider his next move based on the possibility of game-time, rather than status.