Liverpool successfully ward off Real Madrid interest in star midfielder

It’s no secret that Real Madrid are always two steps ahead when it comes to squad building. With Luka Modrić reportedly heading to AC Milan, the Spanish giants have started quietly scanning the market for a world-class, box-to-box midfielder—but only if the fit is perfect.

And one name is standing out above the rest: Alexis Mac Allister.

According to COPE’s Melchor Ruiz, via Madrid Xtra, Mac Allister is admired by decision-makers at the Bernabéu. His resume speaks for itself: a Premier League champion, a World Cup winner, and one of the most complete midfielders in Europe. But here’s the issue—the price tag.

Liverpool reportedly value him at over €100 million, and Madrid, for all their financial muscle, aren’t prepared to pull the trigger at that valuation. Not for a midfielder. Not right now.

The Ideal Modrić Replacement?

Madrid don’t need a new midfielder. Not urgently. They have Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Eduardo Camavinga—a golden quartet for the next decade. But with Modrić’s graceful decline and eventual departure, there’s room for a hybrid profile. Someone with the tactical intelligence to manage games, but also the attacking punch to push forward.

Mac Allister is that player.

He doesn’t just fit the Madrid mold. He defines it. Press-resistant, intelligent in possession, lethal in late runs into the box, and unfazed under pressure—he could walk into the Real Madrid XI tomorrow. You could even argue he might start over Camavinga, whose profile is still more defensive and raw in possession.

Why Madrid Are Wasting Their Time

But here’s the thing. Mac Allister isn’t leaving Liverpool.

Not now. Not after everything he’s achieved.

He was a cornerstone of Liverpool’s Premier League-winning midfield—a tactical hub and creative heartbeat rolled into one. And more than that, he’s happy. He has a fantastic relationship with Jurgen Klopp’s successor, fits seamlessly into the system, and is one of the leaders in the dressing room already.

Liverpool also need him more than Madrid do. They’re chasing the Champions League next season with a squad built on balance, and Mac Allister is irreplaceable in that equation. He’s a non-transferable asset—not just because of his talent, but because of his role in the club’s emotional and tactical core.

And let’s be real: Liverpool outplayed Real Madrid last season. The power dynamics have shifted. Madrid are no longer just poaching from below. Liverpool are at the same table, and they’re not in the mood to sell their silverware.

A Dream That Won’t Happen

In another timeline, maybe. But unless Mac Allister forces a move (highly unlikely), or Madrid break their transfer ceiling for a player they don’t desperately need (even more unlikely), this is one of those transfer stories that stays in the dream folder.

For Madrid fans, Mac Allister is the one that got away—except he was never really on the market to begin with.