Roberto Firmino lined up for Liverpool reunion in unlikely transfer plan
Roberto Firmino is being linked with an unlikely move to Real Madrid in the Spanish press, and he could link up with former Liverpool team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold in Spain
Joselu remains something of a cult hero at Real Madrid, so much so that they want to create another one.
The former Stoke and Newcastle forward may have flopped in the Premier League, but he's fondly remembered in the Spanish capital after scoring crucial goals en route to Real's 2024 Champions League victory, most notably his late brace in the semi-final win over Bayern Munich.
Joselu, who had come through the ranks at Real as a youngster and these days plays in Saudi Arabia, was only back on loan at the club for that one season, but he managed 18 goals in 49 appearances in all competitions as he played a vital support role.
And having been without such a player for the past season - a campaign which saw Real lose out on the La Liga title to Barcelona and crash out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage to Arsenal - Real are now reportedly on the lookout for someone to play a similar part in their squad.
Enter Roberto Firmino. The Liverpool legend is being linked with a surprise switch to the Bernabeu by Spanish publication AS, with the Brazilian, 33, having just finished his second season in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ahli.
Having initially struggled to settle in Saudi, Firmino has managed 21 goals in 65 appearances there, and he captained Al-Ahli to the AFC Champions League Elite title this season.
The AS report states that Real are looking for a 'pure, old school' No.9, and while that doesn't exactly describe Firmino during his time at Liverpool, it is thought that he could do a good job for a season to supplement Kylian Mbappe in attack.
Firmino is also seen as someone who could play a vital bench role for the team and allow the young forwards in the club's academy to develop for another year, with Gonzalo Garcia, 21, catching the eye after scoring 25 goals for the B team this season.
Should he complete a switch to the Bernabeu then Firmino would of course be linking up again with Real Madrid's newest recruit Trent Alexander-Arnold, who won it all alongside him at Liverpool during Jurgen Klopp's golden years at Anfield.
He would also have fellow Brazilians Eder Militao and Vinicius Jr to call upon as team-mates, although it remains to be seen whether new Real boss Xabi Alonso will be receptive to the move.
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