Gutiérrez Barely Arrived at Leverkusen, but Real Madrid Already Want Him Back
· Yahoo Sports
Bayer Leverkusen spent more than a year preparing for Miguel Gutiérrez. Less than two months into his first season in Germany, some of Europe's biggest clubs are already watching what happens next.
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Real Madrid, Manchester United, AC Milan and Juventus are monitoring the 25-year-old left-back, according to Ekrem Konor. There have been no offers and no negotiations. For now, this is scouting rather than a transfer pursuit.
For Leverkusen, that distinction is important. They have no plans to sell.
Gutiérrez arrived from Napoli in the summer for around €30 million, signing a contract through 2031. Leverkusen would reportedly only begin considering a sale if an offer reached somewhere between €50 million and €60 million.
The attention is hardly surprising.
Last month, Gutiérrez had produced a goal and three assists across his first four Bundesliga appearances. Against RB Leipzig, he created Patrik Schick's opener before scoring himself in a 2-0 victory. His start also earned him a nomination for the Bundesliga's September Player of the Month award.
What makes Real Madrid's presence particularly interesting is the history.
Gutiérrez came through Madrid's academy and reached the first team before leaving for Girona in 2022. His career has since taken him through Girona, Napoli and now Leverkusen. Madrid are watching a player they once developed return to their radar as a more experienced and established defender.
Leverkusen saw this development coming earlier than most.
Simon Rolfes revealed in September that Gutiérrez had been identified as Alejandro Grimaldo's eventual successor well before Grimaldo actually left. Contact with the player had begun the previous year. When the position finally became vacant, Bayer were executing an existing plan rather than searching for a replacement.
It has worked quickly enough to attract attention beyond club football, too.
De La Fuente Opens Spain Door For In-Form Leverkusen Star GutiérrezThe 25-year-old’s explosive Bundesliga debut has caught the national team's eye, positioning the former Napoli star to challenge for a spot in Spain’s elite defensive rotation.Spain coach Luis de la Fuente confirmed last week that his staff are following Gutiérrez and that the defender has an opportunity to break into the national team. Gutiérrez has yet to make his senior Spain debut, but his Bundesliga form has placed him firmly in the conversation.
Now comes another measure of how far he has moved.
Manchester United are watching. Milan and Juventus are watching. Real Madrid, the club where his career began, are watching again. None have yet given Leverkusen a decision to make, and with five years remaining on his contract after this season, Die Werkself can afford to be unmoved.
The more interesting question is what happens if the watching turns into something more.
Leverkusen planned early to make Gutiérrez their next left-back. His performances have justified that faith almost immediately. Spain has noticed. Europe has followed.
And somewhere among those watching is the club he once had to leave to build the career he wanted.
From here the stage only gets bigger.