Real Madrid have shifted their attention toward Manchester City defender Josko Gvardiol after Arsenal made clear that Riccardo Calafiori is not for sale.
The Spanish club are also keeping tabs on Chelsea centre-back Levi Colwill as an alternative option as they look to strengthen their defensive options this summer.
Reports from TEAMtalk indicate that Calafiori’s unavailability has forced Real Madrid to rethink their approach and look at more attainable targets elsewhere.
Gvardiol is considered a more realistic option given he has just two years remaining on his current contract with Manchester City, creating obvious uncertainty over his future.
Colwill is appreciated by the club, but he is not yet regarded as a priority for Los Blancos, meaning the pursuit of Gvardiol remains the more pressing storyline to follow.
Real Madrid’s interest does not stop there, with sources also indicating the club have been monitoring fellow City players Ruben Dias and Matheus Nunes as potential arrivals.
The fact that Gvardiol can operate at both centre-back and left-back makes him a profile similar to Calafiori, which explains why he has emerged as the primary defensive target.
Dias could appeal to incoming Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, though the interest compounds a difficult summer for City following the departure of Pep Guardiola.
For Arsenal, the news that Real Madrid are moving on from Calafiori will come as a significant relief, particularly after such an extraordinary 2025/26 campaign for the club.
Calafiori was a key contributor as Arsenal won the Premier League title and reached the Champions League final, cementing himself as a vital part of Mikel Arteta’s defensive setup.
The Italy international does carry some injury concerns, which may have given Arsenal pause had a truly significant offer arrived on their desk.
However, with Real Madrid now reportedly looking elsewhere, Arsenal can plan for the upcoming season with confidence that their back line will remain largely intact.
