Florentino Perez's latest word: still Michael Olise

Real Madrid's longest-running summer obsession has resurfaced with a fresh comment from president Florentino Perez. According to Fabrizio Romano, Perez continues to tell people at Real Madrid that Michael Olise "was born to play for Real Madrid." This persistence continues despite Bayern Munich's efforts to retain the player — nearly doubling his salary and offering a contract extension until 2031.

The scale of Perez's fixation has also become clear. According to Romano's earlier comments, the president views Olise as a "Galactico" on the same level as names like Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo; the €150 million world-star signing he promised during his presidential campaign is reported to now be firmly earmarked for Olise.

There is an interesting detail behind this clarity. Following Atletico Madrid's mocking rejection of a €150 million bid for Julian Alvarez, it is recalled that Perez's true target had always been Olise, with the Alvarez approach interpreted as a bluff.

The club's official stance is also being closely tracked. Real Madrid issued an official statement on June 20 denying they had held talks with Olise, in an effort to preserve their relationship with Bayern; however, compared to the definitive "not interested" language used regarding Enzo Fernandez, the statement on Olise only said "no contact had been made," leaving the door open for a future move.

The next step is also known. Following the World Cup, Olise is expected to sit down with Bayern's hierarchy to discuss his future — a meeting Madrid will watch closely for any sign that the player's plans differ from those of the German champions.

Source: Fabrizio Romano
Image: BeIN Sports