Cardiff, Stourbridge and now … Carlisle? Real Madrid have had a decent run with British players in the recent past, and now it seems they are targeting another. Jarrad Branthwaite, hailing from the latter remote Cumbrian city, is the latest to be linked with a sensational move to the Bernabéu after this season’s performances for Everton.
Branthwaite is no stranger to a continental move, impressing on loan at PSV last season, so much so that his then manager, Ruud van Nistelrooy, called him a “complete’ centre-back. Standing at 6ft 5in, speedy and with as much aggression as Martin Keown rushing to laugh in the face of a certain former Manchester United striker, Branthwaite has been scouted by a number of top European clubs this campaign. Carlo Ancelotti was actually the manager to bring him to Everton from Carlisle four years ago – perhaps that will be the factor to swing it in Real Madrid’s favour. Also maybe because they are the most successful club in European history.
