Football Espana
·14 May 2024
Football Espana
·14 May 2024
Real Madrid loanee Iker Bravo has had a tumultuous season this year at Valdebebas, struggling initially at Castilla, before finding form again in the under-19s with Alvaro Arbeloa as manager. Thought of as one of the brightest prospects in Spanish football since the age of 16, Bravo’s future is up in the air.
The 19-year-old has returned to Bayer Leverkusen, as per Diario AS, where he will train with his parent club in a bid to be fit for the under-19 Euros this summer. The season for the under-19s has finished, and Bravo is aware that Raul Gonzalez will not use him again for Castilla.
With his loan deal up at the end of the season, Real Madrid have a €10m buy option, although Leverkusen are open to renegotiating a price. His chances of returning to the Spanish capital depend on a departure though – that of Raul. The Castilla manager could leave this summer, and only if he does, will Bravo return, as the former has not used the young striker.
If Arbeloa takes over from Raul at Castilla, that would make it more likely for Bravo to return. On the other hand, a multitude of La Liga clubs are believed to be interested in Bravo this summer, as well as Udinese, Rennes, Monaco, Union Berlin and Torino.
Amid questions over his attitude early in the season, Bravo found a second wind under Arbeloa, in the second year of his loan at Real Madrid. It appears Leverkusen are willing to part with him, but if Bravo’s talent can be developed, he is projected to be a formidable forward.