Real Madrid want Vitinha. Badly.
After the Club World Cup, with Luka Modric bound for Milan and Toni Kroos announcing his retirement, Xabi Alonso made his midfield intentions clear. He asked the club to pursue Paris Saint-Germain’s Vitinha as the centerpiece of a new era. According to reports, Real Madrid are preparing an offer that could reach $108 million. retired, Xabi Alonso has made his midfield intentions clear. He’s asked the club to pursue Paris Saint-Germain’s Vitinha as a centerpiece of the rebuild. And Real Madrid are reportedly preparing an offer that could reach $108 million.
The problem? PSG aren’t interested.
The 25-year-old Portuguese midfielder has become undroppable under Luis Enrique, playing the best football of his career and helping PSG win their first Champions League title. Just this summer, he signed a new contract through 2029. Luis Enrique has already dismissed exit rumors, saying, “It’s difficult for Vitinha to move in this market.”
Behind closed doors, Jorge Mendes and PSG have reportedly set a valuation above $140 million. Madrid know that would make Vitinha one of the most expensive midfielders of all time. They also know the politics. After the Kylian Mbappé saga, PSG are unlikely to sell anyone of value to Madrid without a fight.
And yet, Alonso continues to push. According to multiple Spanish outlets, including Defensa Central, he told Florentino Pérez: “He’s the type of midfielder we need to rebuild our identity.”
Vitinha as the heir to Modric and Kroos
The perfect tactical fit for Alonso’s new-look midfield
Tactically, it’s hard to find a better match.
Vitinha combines the press resistance and agility of Modric with the tempo control of Kroos. He completed more passes than any player in last season’s Champions League and was second in total distance covered. In the final against Inter Milan, he ran the game, completing 44 of 46 medium passes and assisting PSG’s third goal.
He’s not a physical destroyer, but next to Camavinga or Tchouaméni, that’s not his role. Alonso wants a metronome, a true organizer to replace Kroos. One who can also carry the ball and link attack like Modric. Vitinha fits that bill more than anyone on the market.
It wasn’t always obvious. His first season in Paris was inconsistent. Some critics questioned his impact. But under Luis Enrique, he blossomed. He’s now the conductor of PSG’s midfield, vice-captain in all but name, and a tireless presence without the ball. His maturity and composure under pressure have drawn praise from Modric himself, who said, “He’s excellent on the ball and has phenomenal vision.”
The irony? A few years ago, Wolves passed on buying him for $22 million. Now he’s one of the most coveted midfielders in Europe.
Madrid fans know all this. But they also know PSG. On Reddit, the mood is cautious: “Perfect fit, but zero chance,” one fan wrote. Another put it bluntly: “None. 2029 free transfer when he’s 29 is the only possibility.”
Madrid won’t wait that long. If Vitinha proves unattainable, they have alternatives. The most credible is Angelo Stiller, a 24-year-old from Stuttgart who Alonso reportedly admires. A Bayern academy product, Stiller has emerged as one of the Bundesliga’s smartest deep-lying midfielders. Toni Kroos himself is said to have endorsed him as a possible heir.
Stiller won’t break the bank. He could cost half of what PSG want for Vitinha. He’s less glamorous but more attainable. Others like Enzo Fernández or Exequiel Palacios are being tracked too. And there’s always the option of promoting youth. Nico Paz, currently excelling in Italy, has a $9.7 million buy-back clause.
But none tick all the boxes like Vitinha.
For Alonso, the midfielder who can bind the team together is a top priority. Whether Madrid can convince PSG to let go of theirs is another matter entirely.
