Chema Andrés’ start to life at Brighton and Hove Albion has made a possible return to Real Madrid more complicated than the Spanish giants would like.
They have been keeping a close eye on the midfielder – labelled a Mini Rodri – since he joined Brighton in a €22m deal from Stuttgart this summer.
Indeed, there has been some growing anger in Spain about him. Sport Witness reported last month how questions were being asked how Real Madrid had lost track of the youngster when they so clearly need a player like him.
That stemmed from their attempts to sign Rodri this summer. They were ultimately beaten to him by Barcelona. But there is a continued belief that Jose Mourinho’s midfield needs that type of player in there.
Thus, the extra attention on Chema Andres. He’s not only been described as something of a Baby Rodri but also admitted he’d love to return to the Bernabeu in future.
“Hopefully I’ll return in the future, but right now I’m not thinking about that,” he said last month.
Complicated return
Now, Bernabeu Digital have turned their attention to the midfielder. And they report that his impact at Brighton complicates a possible return to Madrid.
They state that Real Madrid continue to keep an eye on Chema, who is a product of their youth academy. They’re more than aware that his star is rising, particularly as he has settled ‘remarkably well’ at Brighton.
It’s not gone unnoticed that he possesses all the qualities that Real Madrid were seeking int eh summer transfer window. Back then, a return was not considered a possibility due to his lack of experience.
Higher price
That has ended up hurting Real Madrid as now a return would be ‘significantly more complicated’ that it would have been a few months ago.
For a start, Real Madrid now longer hold a buy-back option like they did when he was at Stuttgart. And they only made €11m for their 50% stake in the player this summer to boot.
Getting him out of Brighton, where he is already valued at €24m and they know how to get top prices for their stars, will be a costly enterprise should they decide to pursue it.
The fact the midfielder has openly admitted he’d like to return is a potential ace up their sleeve. That could be a crucial factor in the future. For now, bringing Chema back is seen as more difficult than it once was.
