Real Madrid are close to signing Argentinian goalkeeper Augusto Batalla on a loan deal. River Plate have confirmed they have reached an agreement with Los Blancos to send the footballer to Madrid, where he will join Real’s second team.
River’s president Rodolfo D’Onofrio has confessed “the agreement is not signed yet, but Batalla will leave in June for a one-year loan with a high buying option.”
Los Merengues have been trying to sign the promising keeper for the last few months. They had expected him to arrive in January, as they had a verbal agreement, but River ended up delaying the deal.
The 18-year-old will play under Zinedine Zidane’s management at Real Madrid Castilla, although he could join the first team should Carlo Ancelotti need him.
Spanish press has revealed should Madrid want to keep him at the end of the season, they would have to pay River between three and seven million euros.
Batalla has impressed in his 29 appearances for Argentina’s youth teams, having recently won the Under-20 South American Championship.
Many European giants were interested in signing him, including Manchester City. The Citizens contacted him a few weeks ago, but he had already decided to move to Madrid.
