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By Anthony Nlebem.
Reigning La Liga champions, Real Madrid, are reportedly afraid of signing Villarreal winger Samuel Chukwueze in the summer following his injury history, according to a report on Spanish website, Fichajes.
Los Blancos are reportedly interested in signing the Nigerian winger following his outstanding form for the Yellow Submarine this season, but the report revealed that the Bernabeu hierarchy are wary of his physical condition.
Aside reluctant to meet his €80m release clause, the Merengues are also keen to avoid another mistake of signing a player who will be sidelined by injuries for lengthy spell, like duo Gareth Bale and Eden Hazard.
Since Chukwueze joined Villareal in 2018, the Nigeria international has suffered a series of severe injuries that ruled him out for months.
In February 2019, he took ill and was out for 367 days, missing 48 matches.
The Yellow Submarine were also without Chukwueze’s services for eight matches following a groin injury he sustained January 16, 2021, which ruled him out of football for 31 days.
On May 7, 2021, the winger suffered a hamstring injury that ruled him out for 161 days, missing 15 matches, before he returned October 15, 2021.
“The Nigerian striker is well-liked at the Santiago Bernabéu, but there are several members of the sports management who would question his signing due to his physical condition,” the website wrote.
“Chukwueze went through a period of serious injuries, including relapses, which caused him to miss 30 games, this has set off alarm bells at the Bernabéu, who do not want the ordeal of injuries to Gareth Bale or Eden Hazard to be repeated.”
Madrid president, Florentino Pérez, has been impressed with Chukwueze’s performance this season, with the forward in top form under manager Quique Setien and is enjoying his most productive season yet in his professional career, scoring 13 goals and providing 11 assists across all competitions this season.
The 23-year-old starred against the Merengues at the Bernabeu, where he scored a brace plus an assist as Villarreal stunned the champions with a 3-2 win on match-day 28.
His contract at the Estadi de la Ceràmica expires in the summer of 2024 and the Nigerian might be seeking to play in a bigger club that can compete for titles and play in the UEFA Champions League.
Serie A side AC Milan have reportedly shown interest in getting his signature in the summer transfer window.