Real Madrid sets its sights again on the PSG gem it wanted before the pandemic

At Real Madrid, files are never truly closed. Sometimes, an opportunity frozen by time and circumstances heats up again when least expected.

Such is the case with Nuno Mendes, PSG left-back who, according to sources close to the club, still sparks admiration in the Santiago Bernabéu offices.

Real Madrid old desire is back: Nuno Mendes, the missing piece in the white puzzle?

Five years ago, when he was still shining at Sporting CP, Real Madrid showed serious interest in him. But the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted more than schedules, it canceled negotiations, postponed plans, and left an operation on hold that could now be revived.

Since then, Mendes has only boosted his stock. At just 23 years old, he’s been key in PSG’s historic season, winning the continental treble and performing at a top level in both Ligue 1 and the Champions League.

And that’s not all, he played a starring role in Portugal’s recent Nations League title, shutting down talents like Lamine Yamal in the final.

The showdown that could shape the future

As always, fate has placed Mendes right in Real Madrid path. PSG and Los Blancos will face off in the Club World Cup semifinals. And an outstanding performance from the Portuguese star could reignite Madrid’s interest once and for all.

Could this match become a high-stakes casting call? For some in Chamartín, it already is.

Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid coach, acknowledged that the clash against PSG will be a maximum-level test. And though he avoided naming names, it’s clear Mendes is on the coaching staff’s radar.

Still, the scenario is far from simple. The left-back recently renewed with PSG until 2029, and his market value stands at around €70 million, according to Transfermarkt.

But if Real Madrid has proven anything, it’s that no obstacle is insurmountable when a player fits their sporting vision.

If Mendes shines once more in the semifinal, the echoes of that failed 2020 attempt might just become the start of a new galáctico chapter.