Why Real Madrid turned down Victor Munoz bargain deal as Liverpool transfer divides club

Liverpool has its first signing of the Andoni Iraola, with the Reds having completed the signing of Victor Munoz from Osasuna, despite Real Madrid having the chance to sign him for a bargain fee

Figures inside Real Madrid are said to have been left divided after the club’s decision to not pursue a deal for Victor Munoz.

The Spanish winger will instead be heading to Liverpool, with the Reds having hijacked Newcastle’s attempts to lure him away from Osasuna. Having met his $46 million (€40M) release clause, Munoz will link up with Andoni Iraola’s side after his involvement with Spain at the World Cup.

Part of the deal that will see Munoz head to Anfield sees his former club Real bagging half of the fee paid by the Reds – although the Spanish giants themselves were in the strongest position to re-sign the 22-year-old.

Having sold him to Osasuna in a deal worth around $6.9M with add-ons included, Real included several buyback options that would be valid over the first three seasons of the five-year contract he signed, according to The Athletic.

The first option, valid this summer, stood at just $9.2M (€8M) but, despite his impressive performances, Real chose not to trigger it in a move that is said to have left some figures at the club with “mixed feelings”.

Some at the Bernabeu are claimed to have been in favor of a return for Munoz, with the idea of bringing an academy graduate back especially appealing. However, no formal communication took place with Osasuna.

What’s more, following Jose Mourinho’s return as manager, it’s suggested that Munoz was not seen as a priority, despite interest coming from bitter rival Barcelona.

Madrid’s board is also said to be of the belief that banking around $30M in total from the winger’s two transfers over the past 12 months represents good business. The money from Liverpool could come in particularly handy now as Real looks to sign Denzel Dumfries from Inter Milan, with the right-back available for $23M.

That view is seemingly not shared across the club though, with coaches and staff inside the academy in the Spanish capital feeling that it sends a disappointing message to the club’s younger players.

Real’s loss could be Liverpool’s gain though, with Munoz signing a six-year contract to kick off the Iraola era.

The winger is currently on international duty with Spain at the World Cup, although he didn’t feature in his country’s opening draw with Cape Verde, and he could now miss the remainder of the group stages.

Munoz was carrying a muscular issue during training, and has suffered a fresh setback, with a statement from the RFEF saying: “During the scheduled and individualized recovery process, an additional muscle injury has occurred that will delay his return to competition.

“His availability for the upcoming matches will depend on the evolution of his symptoms.”