Real Madrid fans have long demanded a backup striker for Karim Benzema, someone who could offer a decent output in his absence and check the boxes that Luka Jovic and Mariano Diaz have failed to. And it looks that the club has finally addressed the matter and pursued a signing up front.
The 2021/22 La Liga and European champions have completed the signing of Bayer Leverkusen striker Iker Bravo. He will arrive on loan with a purchase option of close to €6 million. The 17-year-old captivated Real Madrid enough to bring him to the Santiago Bernabeu. Interestingly, he was part of La Masia before.
Bravo, capped by Spain at various age levels through to Under-19, made two substitute appearances for Leverkusen in all competitions last season. Carlo Ancelotti’s side are said to have seen off competition from Atletico Madrid. Bravo is expected to spend the 2022-23 season playing for Los Blancos‘ reserve side Real Madrid Castilla.
Exactly who is Bravo though and what does he bring to the table that impressed Real Madrid so much?
Who is Iker Bravo?
Iker Bravo was born on 13 January 2005 in Sant Cugat del Valles and his parent club is Bayer Leverkusen. He played for CFA Espluguenc from 2008-2010, for FC Barcelona from 2010-2021 and has played for Bayer 04 Leverkusen since 2021.
The Spaniard began his career at Barcelona’s La Masia at the age of five, but he recently moved to Bayer Leverkusen in July 2021. The teenage Spanish prodigy was handed his first-team debut by Gerardo Seoane in October last year in a DFB-Pokal clash against Karlsruher SC. Following that, Bravo featured in a Bundesliga game against Hertha BSC in November 2021 but has not played a single game for the first team since.
Iker Bravo stats
Since joining Bayer Leverkusen in 2021, he has scored 10 goals and provided 3 assists in 17 appearances for the U17 and U19 teams.
In terms of top-flight appearances, the forward played his last game on the 11th matchday of the 2021/22 Bundesliga season. Playing for Bayer 04 Leverkusen, he played against Hertha BSC and was substituted in and played as a forward for 11 minutes in that game. In terms of total touches, Iker Bravo had two individual ball possessions. Furthermore, he had two tackle challenges in that match. Of these, he was able to win one.
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