There is still a gap between Real and Tavares for an early contract extension, with the powerful center wanting a Sluka-like contract

It’s the middle of summer and Real Madrid haven’t taken many steps ahead of the new season. Last year’s EuroLeague champions have quite a substantial squad and don’t need to make many changes. So far, Facundo Cabaso is the only one added to the squad last year while the WiZink Center left the team Anthony Randolph, Nigel Williams-Goss, Adam Hanga, Peter Corneli. What “burns” the Queen, of course, is Eddie Tavares’ early contract extension.

Of course, for now, the examples are not very encouraging in this regard. The two teams have long been at odds, as it has been pointed out several times that Real has a cap of €3.5m (gross) per year and that exceeding this sum requires the approval of the club’s president, Florentino Perez. In the case of Tavares, Madrid are ready to make an exception, acknowledging his tremendous contribution to the club since 2019 but also his unique competitive qualities that will be very difficult to find in any other player. But here, too, both sides are at a financial distance.

As AS specifically states in its report: “Tavares He wants a standard contract, which top players like Slukas signed for more than three million net this summer. Perhaps this is an exploding market and certainly at 31 and in the prime of his career Tavares would give up his salary to win in exchange for more contract years, but even with that flexibility the two positions are not close, there is a distinct gap that shows no signs of being resolved.

Despite interest from a team from the NBA and several top EuroLeague clubs – such as Panathinaikos who have publicly announced they want to sign him – Tavares is keen to continue in Madrid. But he is facing the last major contract of his career and wants to be recognized for what he is: one of the most influential players in Europe. His exit is big and the player has no plans to leave Real Madrid this summer. He doesn’t want to either, although he will be on a free transfer in 11 months (he has a contract until 2024).