Real Madrid is seeking to add an experienced striker to their bench—a classic number 9 who excels in finishing and aerial duels. Xabi Alonso has requested a forward with a different style than Mbappé or Vinícius, who are more mobile and versatile. The club remembers the impact of Joselu, who scored 18 goals as a substitute last season and whose absence has been felt this year.
The club’s focus is now on signing a similar type of striker and has shown interest in Ante Budimir. The 33-year-old Croatian forward currently plays for Osasuna and has one year left on his contract. Budimir was Osasuna’s most expensive signing, bought for 8 million euros from Mallorca in 2021, with a release clause matching that amount.
Budimir has had a strong season, scoring 24 goals in 42 matches, which has attracted attention from several clubs, including Real Madrid, Betis, Real Sociedad, Juventus, and Roma. The forward remains calm and focused, aware of his impressive form and the interest it has generated both in Spain and abroad.
Real Madrid, led by president Florentino Pérez, plans to pursue Budimir with a cautious approach. Their offer reportedly stands at 3 million euros plus the loan of a promising young player, possibly Jacobo Ramón or Loren Aguado. While Osasuna does not want to sell, they recognize that Budimir’s price is relatively low given his performance and experience.
Budimir has expressed his respect for Osasuna and happiness playing at El Sadar, his home stadium. Speaking from Croatia, he said he is currently focused on national team duties and leaves transfer decisions to Osasuna.
This season has been exceptional for Budimir. He is the third-highest scorer in La Liga with 21 goals, trailing only Mbappé and Lewandowski. He also scored in both of Croatia’s recent World Cup qualification matches. At 33, Budimir sees this as a special moment in his career and would welcome the opportunity to join Real Madrid, even if it means playing a backup role similar to Joselu’s in recent seasons. Osasuna considers him their main goal-scoring reference and now must decide how to respond to Madrid’s interest.
