Real Madrid’s strong relationship with Bundesliga giants could pave the way for defensive signing

Madrid, Spain – As Real Madrid prepare for a potential overhaul at centre-back, the club’s long-standing rapport with Borussia Dortmund has emerged as a decisive factor in their pursuit of Germany international Nico Schlotterbeck.

With David Alaba set to depart when his contract expires in June and Antonio Rudiger’s future dependent on his physical condition over the remainder of the season, Madrid’s technical staff have spent months scouring the market for a reliable central defender. William Saliba’s extension at Arsenal and Dayot Upamecano’s new deal at Bayern Munich removed two early targets, while Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate has failed to convince the Spanish giants.

Attention has now shifted firmly to Schlotterbeck, the 26-year-old left-footed defender whose current Dortmund contract runs until 2027. Although Dortmund are historically tough negotiators and rate the player highly, Madrid believe their relationship with the German club gives them a head start over any rival bidders.

That relationship spans more than a decade and is anchored by the friendship between Dortmund president Hans-Joachim Watzke and Madrid president Florentino Perez, as well as general director Jose Angel Sanchez. The bond remained intact even when the two clubs found themselves on opposite sides of the Super League debate, and it has repeatedly translated into concrete business.

The most recent example is Jude Bellingham, who joined Madrid in 2023 for an initial €103 million plus €30 million in add-ons. Despite richer financial packages being tabled elsewhere, Watzke’s personal recommendation helped steer the midfielder to the Bernabeu. Earlier transactions included Nuri Sahin’s 2011 move to Madrid and subsequent return to Dortmund, Achraf Hakimi’s two-year loan in Germany, and the attempt to facilitate Erling Haaland’s transfer before the striker opted for Manchester City’s release clause.

Should Madrid decide to press ahead, that same goodwill could smooth negotiations for Schlotterbeck, giving the Spanish champions a potential solution to their looming defensive shortage.