Real Madrid Beckons: Stuttgart Star Snubs Manchester United

Angelo Stiller, a standout defensive midfielder for VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga, reportedly prefers a move to Real Madrid over Manchester United. Sources in Spain indicate the 24-year-old is eager to work under Xabi Alonso and sees the Los Blancos project as the ideal next step for his career.

Stiller has garnered significant attention across Europe. Dubbed “The Diamond of the Bundesliga,” he’s tallied 6 goals and 22 assists in 98 appearances for Stuttgart, also earning 5 caps for the German national team. His consistent performances have put him on the radar of two European giants: Real Madrid and Manchester United.

Real Madrid’s Interest Aligns with Stiller’s Aspirations

Spanish outlet Defensa Central reports that Real Madrid is closely monitoring Stiller’s progress, although a final decision hasn’t been made. Their interest is consistent with earlier reports from Footem.in in September, stating that Los Blancos had shown “informal interest” in the midfielder.

An Footem.in report titled “Angelo Stiller awaits Real Madrid after being approached by Manchester United,” quotes club insiders as saying the player personally wants to join Real Madrid and will prioritize them over any other team.

The source added:

Stiller views Real Madrid as the “ideal project,” while Manchester United’s situation is described as “difficult for a long time,” making them a less attractive option.

It is believed that should Real Madrid show direct interest, Stiller would be willing to push for a transfer to Spain.

Manchester United’s Perspective

While Stiller isn’t their top priority, Manchester United’s interest in the Stuttgart midfielder is undeniable. Journalist Ben Jacobs reported earlier that Stiller is on the Red Devils’ target list for the 2025-2026 season.

However, some reports suggest Manchester United’s primary midfield target for January is Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest. MU reportedly believes they can finalize a deal for around £60 million (approximately €70.7 million or IDR 1.20 trillion). Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano has stated that MU is still monitoring Stiller but there have been no official negotiations.

New MU coach, Ruben Amorim, is said to want a key midfielder for the 2026 season, but the final decision on the main target will depend on the market situation.

Transfer Challenges: Timing and Player Profile

Transfer insider Dean Jones of TEAMtalk explains that Stiller isn’t in MU’s plans for January, with two main reasons:

• Stiller’s profile is similar to Bruno Fernandes or Kobbie Mainoo, meaning he could potentially replace one of them.
• MU doesn’t want to recruit players from outside the Premier League in January due to the lengthy adaptation process.

Therefore, MU is now focusing on Premier League players like Carlos Baleba, Elliot Anderson, Yehor Yarmoliuk, and Adam Wharton, who are seen as capable of playing immediately without a long adjustment period.

Release Clause and Price Tag: What’s Angelo Stiller Worth?

According to Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg, Stiller has a release clause of €40 million (approximately IDR 680 billion or £34.2 million). However, Stuttgart can buy back the clause for IDR 34 billion or £1.79 million.

Plettenberg added that if Stuttgart activates that option, they plan to ask for more than IDR 850 billion or £44.8 million!

Real Madrid’s significant interest, Stiller’s own desires, and the potential for a rising price could make this transfer saga one of the most interesting in the 2025-2026 window. The transfer window close time is around 1:30 AM IST of January 31, 2026.