Xabi Alonso has already given his first major approval as Real Madrid's coach. The coach from Tolosa has pointed to the possible replacement for the much-missed Joselu Mato, now playing soccer in the Arab world.
This is Ante Budimir, Osasuna striker, Croatian international, and with a profile very similar to the Galician forward.
The new Merengue coach is looking for a classic-style striker, capable of pinning down center-backs, playing with his back to goal, and providing goals without needing to be the protagonist in every match. He needs a "9" who'll accept being a top-level substitute but will perform every time he's draftedon. That's exactly what Joselu offered last season.
The "Joselu" Xabi Alonso was looking for
Budimir, who's 32 years old, meets all those requirements. In addition, his release clause is only €8 million (8 million euros), a bargain in today's market.
At the White club, they value not only his goal-scoring ability—he scored 16 goals with Osasuna this season—but also his commitment, physicality, and experience. Most importantly: he wouldn't block the signing of a top striker in 2026 or 2027.
Sources close to the White locker room confirm that Xabi Alonso has clearly admitted it: "He's the Joselu I was looking for." Budimir is an "under-the-radar" player who the new coach likes a lot, and who already made him suffer as a rival in LaLiga. The Croatian would fit perfectly into the White team's system, where he could take over from any of the current strikers.
Real Madrid doesn't want to repeat past mistakes. The model of useful, affordable, and committed signings has worked with Joselu, and now they're considering repeating the formula with Budimir.
The first signing of the Alonso era
His camp has already been contacted and they're very receptive. The player would be delighted to make the leap to a big club and play in the Champions League for the first time in his career.
Moreover, his signing wouldn't mean a high expense, which would allow them to keep allocating resources to other more ambitious operations. Florentino Pérez already has Xabi Alonso's OK and now everything depends on activating the clause.
Budimir would therefore be the first signing of the Xabi Alonso era. A discreet but very effective move that would strengthen a key area of the field without creating internal tensions. His name is already being heard at Bernabéu... and it's no coincidence.