Real Madrid have made an approach to sign Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie, according to reports. The Spanish club are looking to bolster their squad ahead of the new season under manager Jose Mourinho.
Real Madrid's summer transfer activity
Madrid have already signed Marc Cucurella from Chelsea, plus Bernardo Silva and Ibrahima Konate on free transfers. However, Mourinho is targeting a third defender before the end of the summer window.
According to ESPN, Madrid have enquired about signing Hincapie, who is currently with Ecuador’s squad for their World Cup campaign. The report adds that Mourinho wants a left-footed central defender who can also cover at full-back, making Hincapie a strong option.
Hincapie's move to Arsenal and performance
Hincapie joined Arsenal on loan from Bayer Leverkusen a year ago, and the Premier League champions made the move permanent for £45 million this summer. The 24-year-old started 30 games for Arsenal across all competitions last season, playing both left-back and centre-back.
“When I spoke to Xabi just before we were going to sign him, I said if you have to describe him in one word, what would you use, and he said, ‘he’s a warrior’,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said of Hincapie last season. “He will play through brick walls for you and he’s one of the most competitive players that I have had. He’s come into the Premier League after surgery and a difficult start without a pre-season, and when you see him around his team-mates and competing on the pitch, it’s like he’s been here for 10 years. He has an aura, a charisma, a really special character.”
Madrid's other defensive targets and squad depth
Madrid also have Manchester City’s Ruben Dias on their shortlist, alongside Alessandro Bastoni and Nico Schlotterbeck. However, the club will need to trim their squad first, as Mourinho currently has five central defenders: Konate, Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger, Dean Huijsen, and Raul Asencio.
