Real Madrid drop interest in Manchester United target due to €90 million price-tag: Reports

Real Madrid reportedly don't want anything to do with Manchester United transfer target Randal Kolo Muani due to his price tag.

According to El Nacional, the French striker is valued at €90 million by Eintracht Frankfurt, who signed him from Nantes last summer. He has since scored 21 goals and laid out 15 assists in 42 games across competitions for the defending UEFA Europa League champions.

Manchester United, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) have been linked with Kolo Muani recently. However, Los Blancos have pulled the plug on their pursuit of the France international.

According to AS (h/t ManagingMadrid) last month, Real Madrid extended Karim Benzema's contract by another year. The 35-year-old is now set to stay at the Santiago Bernabeu until the end of next season. But beyond that, Los Merengues could have to look for a new striker.

Carlo Ancelotti has already confirmed that a new No. 9 is on Real Madrid's agenda for the near future. Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane, Napoli forward Victor Osimhen and PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe are some of the other names linked with the La Liga giants.

Manchester United, meanwhile, would be on the lookout for a new centre-forward as well. Wout Weghorst's six-month loan deal expires this summer while Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani left last year without a permanent replacement being signed.

It remains to be seen if the Red Devils will be open to paying €90 million for Kolo Muani (24), who played thrice at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

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Manchester United legend backs Man City to beat Real Madrid in UCL semifinals

Manchester City are scheduled to play against Real Madrid in a UEFA Champions League semi-final for the third time since the start of the 2015-16 season.

They have lost both of their semi-final encounters against Los Blancos but Wayne Rooney believes they will be third time lucky. The Manchester United legend wrote for the Times, via MadridUniversal:

"Manchester City will not just beat Real Madrid in their Champions League semi-final — they’ll blow them away. Of course, I may be wrong. There is no side better at disproving arguments against them than Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid in the Champions League. But I just think City are so good that they’re on another level."

Real Madrid have won the competition 14 times and prevailed in the final last year against Liverpool. Carlo Ancelotti's side are known for being virtually unbeatable in Europe while Manchester City have only made the UEFA Champions League final once in their history.

Pep Guardiola's side, who are on a 20-game unbeaten run across competitions, will face Real Madrid in the first leg at the Santiago Bernabeu on May 9.