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Real Madrid have been offered the perfect opportunity to rekindle their interest in Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller.
The Germany international has been on the club’s radar for several years after developing into one of the Bundesliga’s standout midfielders at Stuttgart under coach Sebastian Hoeness.
The fact that Stiller is still with the Swabian club is a surprise, considering the level of interest he has received from suitors in recent transfer windows. In addition to Real Madrid, the 25-year-old has also been courted by Man Utd.
However, the latter opted to sign Premier League experience this summer and no longer need Stiller. This could give Los Blancos a free run at him in 2027, and a transfer should not be too difficult to pull off.
According to Sky Germany, the expectation is that this will be Stiller’s final season at Stuttgart. His contract expires in 2028, and there is so far no indication that an extension is in any way being considered by the player, meaning that he will have to be sold next summer.
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Stiller has a €40 million release clause in his contract. Stuttgart have the option to remove this exit mechanism in exchange for €2m in compensation, but it may no longer be in their best interest to do so.
While they could previously have demanded fees well in excess of €40m for Stiller, this will be quite difficult next year. His expiring contract will naturally decrease his value, while there is also the added factor that his development seems to have plateaued.
Stiller has stagnated over the past 12 months or so. He is still among the best midfielders in the Bundesliga, but his decision to stay at Stuttgart after their DFB-Pokal success in 2025 seems to have backfired.
That would have been the ideal chance to take the next step in his career and continue on his upward trajectory. Instead, he chose to remain for another season and failed to kick on.
Reporter Florian Plettenberg has confirmed that Stuttgart fans who think their club could get €50m-€60m for Stiller should “lay these dreams to rest.” If anything, the Bundesliga side will be lucky if anyone shows a willingness to trigger Stiller’s clause.
The Swabians will be in a weakened negotiating position, so they will likely have to accept a fee below his release clause. €25m-€35m may be a more realistic price tag than €40m for Stiller next summer.
This would make him a market opportunity. Despite his stagnation, he remains a hugely talented midfielder who can run the show in the middle of the park in the right system.
Real Madrid would be well-advised to rekindle their pursuit of the 25-year-old, according to data analytics firm SciSports. Stiller is a perfect stylistic fit for the Spanish giants, as per SciSports’ Career Advice tool.
Although Los Blancos are not his best option – that would be Napoli – they rank extremely well with a Club Fit score of 81 out of 100 and receive full marks in the potential development and playing style categories. Jose Mourinho’s formation also suits Stiller.
It is no secret that Real Madrid desperately need an orchestrator in midfield. Ever since Toni Kroos retired in 2024, they have lacked control in midfield, and the problem was only exacerbated by Luka Modric’s move to AC Milan last year.
Real Madrid failed to sign Rodri this summer and still lack a Kroos-style player. Stiller, although he is nowhere near Rodri’s level, would be a solid option on a cut-price deal.
SciSports believes that Stiller still has room for improvement; he just needs to find a club that can unlock his full potential. His ceiling is believed to be higher than the current levels of Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni. Signing him could be a no-brainer.
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