Fulham signs duo from Real Madrid
The English Premier League club has bolstered its squad with young Spanish players, while Milan's coach spoke about the Croatian captain and previewed the new season.
The English Premier League club has bolstered its squad with young Spanish players, while Milan's coach spoke about the Croatian captain and previewed the new season.
Fulham officially confirmed on Monday the arrival of two young players from Real Madrid: forward Gonzalo García and midfielder César Palacios. Both have signed five-year contracts with the London club and will reunite with former Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa in their new environment.
Arbeloa took over Real Madrid's first team in January 2026, replacing Xabi Alonso, but left Madrid at the end of the season and moved to Fulham in July. Now he will have the opportunity to work with players he knows well from the Spanish giants' youth setup.
Gonzalo García, a 22-year-old forward, made 51 appearances for Real and scored 13 goals. He was part of the squad that won the La Liga title and the Champions League in 2024. Although the official transfer fee has not been disclosed, British media estimate that Fulham paid around £34 million, or $45 million, for him.
César Palacios is 21 years old and made seven appearances for Real Madrid's first team, including his debut in the Copa del Rey against Albacete and a Champions League appearance. His contract with Fulham runs until the summer of 2031, with an option to extend for an additional twelve months. The transfer fee is estimated at around £8.5 million.
Fulham begins its 2026/27 Premier League season on August 24, 2026, at home against Chelsea, and García and Palacios are expected to be among the new signings.
While Fulham strengthens, Milan coach Ruben Amorim previewed the new season at a press conference and spoke specifically about Luka Modrić. The Croatian captain will get playing time in the friendly against Inter on August 5, 2026, in Australia.
"Modrić will play. Everyone will get a certain amount of minutes in the derby. We don't have much time for training because matches come one after another, so we're practically training through matches. That's why we have to manage the workload wisely," said Amorim.
Luka is very humble and doesn't enjoy the attention he receives. He possesses immense knowledge and experience, and I will treat him the same as any other player. He will have to fight for his place in the lineup, but it's clear he's a special player. We invested a lot of resources to keep him with us for at least one more season, and I'm very pleased with him.
The Portuguese tactician also commented on the atmosphere in the dressing room, saying he is satisfied with the squad. "I have a feeling that everyone is working very well, regardless of when they joined the team. The squad is very united, and we need to maintain that throughout the season. At Milan, you have to win every match, and that's why the right mentality is crucial," he emphasized.
Amorim also spoke about Rafael Leão, noting that he doesn't see any difference between him and the other players, and that everyone is preparing for the start of a very demanding season. The Serie A season kicks off on August 21, 2026.
Speaking about potential signings before the end of the transfer window, Amorim stressed that he is satisfied with the current squad. "We have our plans in the market, but if we start the season with this team, I'm confident we'll be competitive and capable of beating anyone," he concluded.
