Real Madrid closing in on €10m Ghanaian defender

The Madrid club is negotiating the arrival of Oscar Naasei, Granada defender initially set to strengthen Castilla

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Real Madrid closing in on €10m Ghanaian defender

Real Madrid are reportedly close to signing Oscar Naasei, the Ghanaian defender from Granada who is initially expected to bolster Castilla.

Real Madrid continue their strategy of snapping up young talent. According to AS, the Madrid giants are on the verge of finalizing a permanent transfer for Oscar Naasei Oppong, the 21-year-old Ghanaian defender currently on the books at Granada.

Talks have reportedly accelerated in recent days and a deal could be sealed very soon. Real have also moved ahead of several rivals, including Rayo Vallecano.

Oscar Naasei, a versatile defender

Naasei is under contract with Granada until June 2028 and has a release clause of around ten million euros, according to earlier reports from AS. However, the transfer fee being discussed has not been disclosed and is believed to be below this amount. His current market value is estimated at €1.5 million by Transfermarkt.

The 1.85m tall player can operate as a centre-back or right-back. Last season, he featured in 39 matches across all competitions, scoring once. His experience in Spain’s second division and his versatility have convinced Real to fast-track this deal.

Castilla as the first step

Having joined Granada’s academy in 2023 from Emmanuel City Academy in Ghana, Naasei quickly progressed to the reserves before breaking into the first-team squad. He also featured in the opening two matchdays of the current league campaign under Pacheta.

In Madrid, the Ghanaian is expected to initially join Castilla, managed by Julián López de Lerma. He is therefore not seen as an immediate reinforcement for José Mourinho’s first team.

A signing for the future

Real’s main objective is to help Naasei develop within their reserve ranks before considering a potential promotion. This move is part of a long-term strategy and should not be regarded as a seventh major signing for the first team right away.

The Madrid club have already invested this summer in several young talents, including Carlos Espí, signed from Levante. The striker, incidentally, scored the winner for Los Merengues in their thrilling comeback victory over Espanyol (2-1). Naasei, however, will follow a different path, with Castilla as the first stage of his development.