Who Is Real Madrid And Perez’s Mystery $175 Million Transfer Target?

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez used an appearance on Horzionte in Spain to announce three new signings while also teasing that he'll launch a $174 million (€150 million) bid for an unnamed player on Tuesday. But who is his mystery man?

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Real Madrid president Florentino Perez used an appearance on Spanish television program Horizonte to announce three new signings on Thursday evening.

He also teased that he’ll launch a $175 million (€150 million) bid for an unnamed player on Tuesday, after hopefully winning re-election on June 7.

“[Jose] Mourinho and [Ibrahima] Konaté are coming... and now I say [Denzel] Dumfries,” Perez said, when asked about transfers.

“[Dumfries is] a very good right-back. But we’re going to have good players in other positions. I’m going to make an offer to a Champions League club soon, on Tuesday, which will be the biggest payment Madrid would have made for a player in their history, €150 million at least.”

"It’s not [Jeremy] Doku and it’s not [Erling] Haaland... But he plays up front, he’s a striker. But first we will talk to the club, we will not do what this man has done," Perez concluded.

That last part was a dig at ballot box rival Enrique Riquelme, who faces the threat of legal action from Manchester City for claiming to have Rodri and Erling Haaland sealed.

And while Perez is keeping schtum, the world still wants to know: who is his mystery man?

ForbesReal Madrid Chief Perez Announces Three New Signings And $175m OfferBy Tom Sanderson

Real Madrid already has defensive reinforcements

Perez has announced two world class back line warriors in Konaté and Dumfries, alongside a new manager to command them that’s Mourinho.

While the former center back arrives on a free transfer from Liverpool after June 30 when his contract expires, full back Dumfries should cost a bargain $23 million (€20 million) once his Inter Milan release clause has been triggered.

That leaves the midfield and attack. And according to AS, everything points to three European heavyweights that have made Perez’s shortlist.

Namely they are Michael Olise from Bayern Munich plus Portuguese Paris Saint-Germain pair Vitinha and Joao Neves.

Finishing two seasons trophyless while FC Barcelona have dominated in Spain, it goes without saying that Madrid have missed someone with the grit and passing ability of Luka Modric or the playmaking vision of Toni Kroos.

While Neves could provide the work rate and muscle despite his short frame, Vitinha is the retreated genius that profiles such as Fede Valverde and Jude Bellingham can’t match.

Madrid’s left wing is more than stacked with options like Vinicius Jr. and even central target man Kylian Mbappé.

That also means Los Blancos don’t need a striker - even though Perez said that his mystery man is one but not Haaland.

With Rodrygo injured for most of the season, Arda Guler moved into the middle and Franco Mastantuono failing to adapt since his big money move, the right wing is up for grabs.

That’s where Olise could come in, and he’s thought by many as the strongest player on the planet in that position alongside Lamine Yamal.

But let’s just say that the figure in question really is a striker. Could Perez really throw a curveball at us and going after Julian Alvarez?

In a report on Atletico Madrid preferring to sell him to Paris Saint-Germain instead of Barca, the Argentine is rated at the quoted figure.

Other surprise names thrown around on footballer Twitter, or X, are Ballon d’Or holder Ousmane Dembelé - a former Barça winger - and Désiré Doué.

In any event, if Perez extends his stay in Real Madrid hotseat by beating Riquelme, we’ll no doubt swiftly learn who he has in mind through the Spanish media.