Eljif Elma’s current form has attracted interest from Real Madrid and Barcelona. On Sunday, the Napoli midfielder scored twice in a crucial World Cup qualifier against Iceland, leading North Macedonia to a much-needed victory.
Elmas, who isn’t usually a starter, has been getting regular minutes under Luciano Spalletti’s tutelage. So far, the youngster has appeared in 16 games across all competitions, starting seven and scoring two goals.
Elmas is in his third season at Napoli after joining Fenerbahce for €16 million in 2016. The coach has taken advantage of the ace’s versatility, as he is capable of playing multiple roles. The Real Madrid and Barcelona target has played as a box-to-box midfielder, an attacking midfielder, and even a left-winger, assisting Lorenzo Insigne when needed. Carlo Ancelotti was a major proponent of the star’s signing and remained a fan, which explains Real Madrid’s interest. According to reports, he has also piqued the interest of Barcelona, who are looking to rebuild a younger team.
With the 22-year-contract old’s expiring in the summer of 2025, Napoli wants to keep him. However, Barcelona and Real Madrid may make difficult-to-refuse offers to the Partenopei. Elmas has made 96 appearances for the Partenopei, scoring six goals and assisting four times. He has also played 30 times for North Macedonia, scoring seven goals.
Florian Wirtz of Leverkusen is another rising star this season. It’s no surprise that both La Liga giants are interested in the rising star, which is only 18 years old and has already been called to the German national team. While Real Madrid may be able to entice the lead away from Bayer Leverkusen with financial prowess, Barcelona will not be able to do so. Los Blancos do not want to miss another breakout star after losing out on Kai Havertz to Chelsea.
Florian Wirtz has stood out in the Bundesliga this season, scoring four goals and dishing out six assists in just nine appearances. The star has already made four appearances for Germany on the international stage.
