French football legend Zinedine Zidane, a pivotal figure at Real Madrid, maintains a strong bond with club president Florentino Pérez, who frequently consults him on promising French players.
Zidane, the iconic former player and coach, continues to support the club during crucial times. According to *Defensa Central*, Zidane recently shared his admiration for RB Leipzig’s young French center-back, Castello Lukeba, stating, "This young man is very good." Lukeba, highly rated by Real Madrid’s top scout, Juni Calafat, has quickly risen on the club's radar.
At just 21 years old, Lukeba is regarded as one of France’s brightest defensive talents, with a contract at Leipzig until 2028 and a current market value of 40 million euros. Despite his growing reputation, Real Madrid has not yet committed to a center-back signing, especially when compared to high-profile targets in other positions like Alphonso Davies or Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Real Madrid remains cautious in their transfer strategy, preferring thorough market analysis to avoid costly mistakes like those involving Luka Jovic or Mariano Díaz. The club places high value on expert input from figures like Zidane and chief scout Calafat, who are both known for their keen eye for emerging talent.
Zidane’s endorsement of Lukeba has reportedly prompted Pérez to instruct the club’s transfer team to move forward with pursuing the defender. Zidane also believes Lukeba will surpass Lenny Yoro, the young talent signed by Manchester United last summer.