Key Takeaways
- Paris Saint-Germain have identified Real Madrid defender Joan Martinez as a summer transfer target.
- The 18-year-old centre-back has a €150 million release clause and a contract with Los Blancos until 2029.
- Real Madrid may allow Martinez to leave if they secure enough cover in their first-team defence.
Paris Saint-Germain are preparing another raid on Spanish football. The Ligue 1 giants already signed Dro Fernandez from Barcelona’s academy in January. Now they have turned their attention to capital rivals Real Madrid.
Luis Campos, the sporting director at PSG, has marked Joan Martinez as a priority target for the upcoming window. The 18-year-old currently plays for Real Madrid’s reserve side, Castilla. According to reports from Marca, Campos has tracked the teenage centre-back for several months and already knows the terms of his contract.
Martinez committed his future to Real Madrid with a deal that runs until 2029. That agreement includes a substantial release clause of €150 million. This hefty sum means PSG cannot simply force through a move. They must enter direct negotiations with Real Madrid to discuss a transfer fee.
However, Los Blancos might be willing to do business. The Spanish club wants five centre-back options in their senior squad next season. At present, only Eder Militao and Dean Huijsen are guaranteed to remain. If the club signs additional defenders, Martinez could depart. He would join fellow Castilla talents Diego Aguado and Victor Valdepenas on the list of players available for transfer.
Real Madrid typically sell their academy graduates using a specific formula. They usually accept reduced fees but insist on 50% sell-on clauses and buyback options. Recent departures like Jacobo Ramon and Nico Paz followed this path. Yet this structure would not apply to a deal with PSG. Real Madrid would demand a large upfront payment for Martinez instead.
The young defender has faced setbacks in his career. Two summers ago, he trained with the senior team as a 16-year-old during preseason. He then suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury that kept him out for most of the following season.
This term, Martinez has performed well for Castilla. Despite this, Carlo Ancelotti has chosen other youngsters for first-team opportunities. Both Aguado and Valdepenas have appeared with the seniors ahead of him. Martinez therefore faces an uncertain future at the Bernabeu.