Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 5y

Real Madrid face competition for Junior Firpo signing - source

Reported Real Madrid target Junior Firpo is being tracked by "various clubs," a source close to the Real Betis left-back has told ESPN FC.

Junior, 22, made his La Liga debut in February 2018 and contributed a goal and an assist when Betis registered a shock 4-3 win over Barcelona at Camp Nou in November.

Barca, Juventus, Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal have also been linked with the Spain under-21 international, according to reports in the Spanish press. While Madrid were reportedly closest to triggering his €50 million release clause this summer.

A source close to the player told ESPN FC that several of Europe's biggest clubs had shown an interest -- while making it clear that no decision had yet been made over his future, with Junior focusing on getting back to full fitness, having been troubled by hamstring issues in recent weeks.

Junior signed a contract extension with Betis in August, which runs until 2023.

The left-back position at Madrid is uncertain. Marcelo, who had been first choice for over a decade, found himself in and out of the team this season, and has linked with a move to Juventus.

Sergio Reguilon, 22, was Santiago Solari's first choice, but did not feature in Zinedine Zidane's first match back as manager.

Theo Hernandez, who joined from Atletico Madrid in 2017, has been on loan at Real Sociedad this season.

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