Real Madrid has set its sights on a Serie A starlet.

Real Madrid’s radar has settled firmly on Honest Ahanor, a 2008-born defender who is impressing Serie A to the tune of excellent performances with the Atalanta shirt. After his transfer from Genoa to Bergamo last summer for a sum close to 18 million euros, the talented youngster has confirmed exponential growth. The management of the Blancos, always very attentive to young profiles capable of imposing themselves in the top European leagues, sent their scouts to closely monitor his performance.

After a long bureaucratic process related to his Nigerian origins, Ahanor finally obtained Italian citizenship and just on Tuesday evening he added a key piece to his rise by making his official debut with the Italian national Under-21 team. In the European qualifying match against Sweden won by the Azzurrini 4-0 in Boras, the defender took over at 68′ in place of Bartesaghi immediately showing his trademark personality and physicality. This pivotal step not only opened the doors for him to the national team, but also increased his market value by removing any constraints on his registration as an EU player.

Ahanor’s profile also seduced Florentino Pérez’s club because of his extraordinary tactical pliability. Born as a left-back in Genoa’s youth ranks, he evolved in his time in Bergamo with Raffaele Palladino into a modern defense brace or full-band outside back, capable of pushing and falling back at the right moment. His ability to cover multiple roles, coupled with excellent technique, makes him the ideal profile of the contemporary defender.

Although the Madrid courtship is concrete, the operation remains complex and onerous. Atalanta is a very expensive store, and after his debut in the Under-21s and excellent performances in the Champions League, the valuation of Ahanor’s tag has already skyrocketed beyond 30 million euros. Real will also have to watch out for Premier League sirens.