A familiar face could be heading back to the Spanish capital. Real Madrid are reportedly considering triggering a buyback clause to re-sign Jacobo Ramon, the 21-year-old centre-back who left the club for Serie A side Como just last year. According to Spanish outlet Fichajes — as reported by The Hard Tackle — Los Blancos hold a buyback option worth just €9 million, a figure that could make this one of the shrewdest pieces of business in the January window if Carlo Ancelotti’s side decide to pull the trigger.
What’s the Story?
Jacobo Ramon came through Real Madrid’s legendary academy system, La Fabrica, and spent his formative years in the Spanish capital. Unable to break into the first team at the Santiago Bernabéu, he made the move to Cesc Fàbregas’s Como last year and hasn’t looked back. He racked up over 3,000 minutes of game time across 37 appearances in all competitions in his debut season at the Italian club, chipping in with two goals along the way. He’s carried that form into the current campaign, already logging more than 500 minutes in six outings and adding a goal to his name.
That kind of consistent, high-level performance from a young centre-back hasn’t gone unnoticed. According to the same report, Arsenal and Chelsea have also registered their interest in the 21-year-old Spaniard. Chelsea, under Xabi Alonso, run a back-three system that requires depth and quality at centre-back, and Ramon has been identified as a long-term option to partner Levi Colwill and others in that defensive unit. Arsenal’s interest is perhaps more puzzling given their options at the back, but the bottom line is that real competition is building for Ramon’s signature.
That’s where Real Madrid’s buyback clause becomes a game-changer. At just €9 million, it effectively takes the decision out of Como’s hands. No bidding war, no drawn-out negotiations — if Real Madrid want their man back, they can have him at a price that would be considered a bargain in today’s market for a player of his quality and trajectory.
Why This Makes Sense for Real Madrid
The timing of this potential move is no coincidence. Real Madrid’s defensive options have been put under the microscope in recent months. Antonio Rüdiger, one of the first names on the teamsheet since his arrival from Chelsea back in 2022, is now on the wrong side of 30 and entering the twilight of his career at the highest level. The club did bring in Ibrahima Konaté to bolster the backline, but concerns remain about depth and long-term planning in that position. Compounding things further, Raul Asencio has reportedly been dealing with injury troubles, which has nudged the club back towards the transfer market ahead of January.
From a squad-building perspective, bringing back Ramon makes a lot of sense. He’s Spanish, he knows the club’s culture and methodology inside out having grown up in the La Fabrica system, and he’s proven he can handle himself at a solid level in European football. At 21, he would also represent an investment in Real Madrid’s future rather than just a short-term fix — exactly the kind of profile that suits the club’s long-term vision alongside more established names.
There’s also a financial angle worth noting. Even if Real Madrid opt not to activate the buyback clause this January, the report states they hold a 50 per cent sell-on clause. So if Ramon eventually moves to Chelsea or Arsenal for, say, €40-50 million down the line, the Merengues would pocket a very healthy cut. Either way, the club wins — but activating the €9 million clause now would almost certainly represent the smarter play.
What This Means for Madridistas
For Real Madrid supporters, this story is an exciting one on multiple levels. There’s always something special about a La Fabrica product finding his feet elsewhere and then earning his way back to the club he grew up at — it’s a narrative fans love. Think of it as the system working exactly as it should: develop the talent, loan or sell at the right moment, retain the mechanism to bring them home when the time is right.
If this move goes through in January, Ramon wouldn’t necessarily arrive as a starter — not with the quality already at Ancelotti’s disposal — but he’d be walking into an environment he understands, at an age where he can only keep improving. The club would be securing a quality, young, Spanish centre-back for what is, frankly, an absurdly low fee given the market.
Keep an eye on this one as the January window approaches. The €9 million clause won’t stay available forever, and with Chelsea and Arsenal circling, Real Madrid may well decide sooner rather than later that it’s time to bring Jacobo Ramon home.
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