Former Real Madrid and Chelsea midfielder Claude Makelele has revealed that he has told Los Blancos president Florentino Perez to sign Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise in a recent conversation.
On Thursday night, reports emerged that Olise, 24, had told his French team-mates at the World Cup that he wants to sign for the Spanish giants, in what would be a blockbuster transfer.
And now, Makelele, who played a major part in the all-conquering Galacticos team in the early 2000s, has revealed that he spoke with Perez privately regarding Real launching a bid for Olise.
‘Michael Olise to Real Madrid? I would encourage it,’ Makelele said. ‘I had the chance to speak to President Florentino [Perez], and I told him: if there’s money to spend on one player, it’s him.’
French newspaper L’Equipe have claimed that Olise has been ‘gathering information’ from his countrymen, such as Real Madrid stars Kylian Mbappe and Aurelien Tchouameni, about the club during the tournament.
The winger joined Bayern in a £50million deal in 2024 and has three years left on his contract with the German side. Real will have to stump up a significant fee to make his wish a reality.
France’s Michael Olise has been linked with a mega money move to Real Madrid this summer
Former Madrid and French midfielder Claude Makelele has claimed he recently told Florentino Perez to go and sign Olise
Olise played a major role in the France side that reached the semi-finals of the World Cup, bagging a tournament-high five assists before his country’s 2-0 defeat to Spain in the last four.
And in spite of Olise’s struggles against La Roja, which has in turn landed France a third-place play-off date with England on Saturday, Makelele has piled praise on the forward for his performances in North America.
Speaking to ComeOn, he added: ‘Olise gives me back the feeling of watching football, the taste of what we were as kids: talent, freedom, quality, efficiency.
‘When he’s not on the pitch, you feel his absence. When he is, you sense that at any moment, like Messi, he can produce something nobody saw coming.
‘Look at Dembele, Mbappe, Barcola: they know he can put a ball into a space other players don’t even see. That’s the modern football we love, the football that makes fans dream.
‘Even the broadcasters are amazed by his technique. He’s exceptional.’
It’s also been reported that Dayot Upamecano, who plays with Olise at both club and international level, has been pushing for the former Crystal Palace man to remain in Germany in an ‘intense lobbying effort’.
Olise recorded an impressive 16 goals and 27 assists in 39 league games for Bayern Munich last season
Olise has been the subject of intense transfer speculation after impressing for Bayern, recording 16 goals and 27 assists in 39 league games.
Reports in Germany earlier this year claimed Liverpool would launch an audacious £173m bid for the player amid their pursuit of a replacement for Mo Salah, but Bayern were adamant he would not be sold this summer.
Olise’s name was also mentioned in the Real Madrid presidential election, as it was suggested the club would table a £130m offer if Florentino Perez secured another term.
Perez did win the election, but there has not yet been any contact between the two clubs regarding a player whose price may have skyrocketed after his displays for France at the World Cup. he
