During the winter transfer window, as many as 40 players were reportedly offered to Real Madrid — though in many cases, it was more about boosting market value than genuine interest. According to Marca, Mauro Icardi was among the most notable names, but he wasn’t alone. Others linked to the Spanish giants included Leandro Paredes, Milan Škriniar, Lautaro Martínez, Mohamed Salah, Gonçalo Guedes, Edinson Cavani, and Leonardo Bonucci.

All of these high-profile players benefited in some way from being associated with Real Madrid. Crickex App highlights that while some of the rumors stemmed from legitimate scouting efforts, many were strategically orchestrated by agents and media outlets to drive up price tags or fan anticipation. In the world of football transfers, a well-timed headline can often do more than a scout’s report.

Given Real Madrid’s underwhelming performances this season under Zinedine Zidane, it’s only natural that speculation surrounding new signings intensified. The club’s need for reinforcements created fertile ground for transfer rumors, and many players saw their names floated as potential solutions.

Among them, Mauro Icardi stood out as the one who came closest to a potential move. Real Madrid did, in fact, scout the Argentine striker thoroughly. His goal-scoring prowess certainly impressed the club’s technical staff. However, internal reports ultimately raised concerns about his personality and off-field lifestyle — factors that played a critical role in Madrid’s decision to pull the plug, despite how close a deal once seemed.

Although the winter window closed without any signings, Marca reported that January was still a very active month for the club behind the scenes. The flurry of rumors was enough to mislead even those at the highest level — including Argentina national team coach Jorge Sampaoli, who at one point publicly stated, “The deal is close.”

In the end, nothing materialized, but the episode served as a reminder of just how quickly a player’s reputation and market value can change when linked to a club like Real Madrid. As the saying goes, “where there’s smoke, there’s fire” — but sometimes, it’s just clever PR.