Real Madrid is probably making the necessary moves to accomodate Kylian Mbappé. Álvaro Odriozola will spend the rest of the season on loan at Fiorentina after meeting the terms with both the Italians and his parent club. Fiorentina will not have the option an option to buy the Basque full-back at the end of the loan. Odriozola is under contract until 2024.
With just five days to go in the mercato, Fiorentina is getting close to wrapping up their incoming business. This is to replace the outgoing Pol Lirola. A deal for first-choice replacement Davide Zappacosta was hijacked by Atalanta, so the Viola quickly moved on to other targets. A wide array of reputable Viola reporters (first reported by Gianluca Di Marzio) were also saying in the last few days that Real Madrid right-back Alvaro Odriozola has agreed to a one-year loan deal.
A couple of days ago it seemed like he would not move from Madrid. The full-back was not giving up on his bid to become a starter at the Santiago Bernabeu. The 25-year-old struggled with injury last season, missing the opportunity to challenge for right-back spot in the absence of the also injured Dani Carvajal. Despite the fact Ancelotti seems to have his two preferred players in the position, Odriozola is determined to fight for his place, but however in the last few days he seems to have changed his mind.
Originally from Spain’s Basque region, Odriozila made his name with Real Sociedad, whose academy he joined in 2006. After an impressive 2017-2018 campaign in which he logged nearly 3,000 minutes, he earned a callup to Spain’s World Cup squad. A €30 million move to the capital followed, where he’s failed to live up to the price tag. He’s mustered just 43 appearances for Madrid, although his stats of 4 goals and 10 assists are impressive for a defender.
Madrid had all 25 places in the squad covered but with Odriozola's departure, there is now room for Mbappé. The defender was not indispensable for Carlo Ancelotti as the coach has Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vázquez for the position of the right-back. This will be Odriozola's second loan since he joined Madrid from Real Sociedad in 2018 - he spent six months on loan with Bayern Munich which was disappointing in terms of playing time (he played a total of 613 minutes) although he did pick up a handful of winners' medals, including one in the Champions League.
Odriozola flew out to Florence to join up with his new team mates and left behind the number 19 shirt. Madrid have two options - swapping the No.19 for the No.5 (worn by Vallejo) or the No.23 (Mendy's number), to free up a number for Mbappé if he completes his dream move to Spain this summer.
The move was finally made official this afternoon with the presentation taking place in Florence after the completion of the medicals. Real Madrid also made the announcement in the official website: “Real Madrid C. F. and ACF Fiorentina have agreed a loan deal for Álvaro Odriozola for this season, running until 30 June 2022”.
On the other side Fiorentina also made the official announcement: “ACF Fiorentina is pleased to announce that Alvaro Odriozola Arzallus has joined the club on loan from Real Madrid CF until 30 June 2022. The 26-year-old full-back, born in San Sebastian, Spain on 14 December 1995, has previously plied his trade for his home-town side Real Sociedad, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. His honours list includes a Spanish Super Cup, a Liga title, a German Cup, a Bundesliga and a Champions League crown. Last season he made 16 appearances for Real Madrid, scoring two goals. Alvaro also has four senior Spain caps to his name”.
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