Real Madrid have promised Barcelona that they will not sign Ilaix Moriba, leaving the Premier League giants Tottenham, Liverpool and Arsenal free to pursue a deal, according to Sport.
This is not to say the 18-year-old playmaker does not have his fair share of admirers at the Santiago Bernabau. Far from it.
Real Madrid have attempted on numerous occasions to lure Moriba away from their most bitter of rivals.
But as the ‘young Paul Pogba’ closes in on an acrimonious departure from a club where he has spent the last 11 years, Moriba will not be following in the footsteps of a certain Luis Figo.
No decapitated hogs heads will be launched in his direction.
According to Sport, Real president Florentino Perez has agreed on a ‘non-aggression pact’ with Barca counterpart Joan Laporta, meaning the former will not attempt to sign any players from the latter and vice-versa.
This is not the first time Real have made such an agreement either.
Between 2000 and 2017, no one would make the short trip from Atletico Madrid to the other side of the city until left-back Theo Hernandez broke the mould and swapped one Madrid-based giant for another four years ago (Guardian).
Is Real Madrid a no-go zone for Ilaix Moriba?
As a result, all the signs suggest that Moriba will not only depart Barcelona this month but depart La Liga too.
England remains his most likely destination, though you’d do well to watch out for the perennial talentspotters RB Leipzig.
According to 90Min, his representatives have been in touch with Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool, as well as Everton, West Ham United, Leicester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Furthermore, it is understood that Moriba was in London this weekend – and not because he fancied a visit to Madam Tussauds…
“If Ilaix does not change his position, he has no future in this club,” Barelona’s vice-president Rafa Yuste said of a man who has been frozen out of Ronald Koeman’s plans after refusing to extend a contract which expires next summer.
“For me, what Ilaix and his camp are doing is a mistake.”
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