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Real Madrid Joins Race for Espi, Lazio Priced Out

31 июля 2026 г.Pablo Navarro1 мин

Real Madrid has surprisingly entered the race for Levante striker Carlos Espí, a development that likely dashes Lazio's hopes of signing the young forward. According to CalcioMercato.com, citing Fabrizio Romano, the Spanish giants are targeting Espí as a potential replacement for Gonzalo García. It's reported that the young striker might join his former coach Álvaro Arbeloa at Fulham, prompting José Mourinho's team to shift their focus to the Levante player.

This situation is a familiar one for Lazio. Gennaro Gattuso's team had been monitoring Espí but withdrew from negotiations several days ago due to strong interest from the Premier League. Real Madrid's emergence now places the deal definitively beyond Lazio's financial reach.

Espi's Clause Attracts Real Madrid as Lazio Looks Elsewhere

Real Madrid's interest is understandable. The young striker, who netted 11 goals in 25 La Liga appearances last season and added two in two Copa del Rey matches, has a release clause of just €25 million. The Spanish champions consider this figure to be well within their capabilities.

This move is seen as an attempt to secure the player's signature ahead of English clubs.

Meanwhile, Lazio has redirected their attention and is reportedly exploring a move for Santiago Giménez, who is said to be deemed surplus to requirements at Milan.