Real Madrid clarify Michael Olise rumours in official statement as saga takes unusual twist

Real Madrid have issued a strongly-worded statement to address ongoing speculation linking the club with a record-breaking move for Bayern Munich forward Michael Olise.

Since club president Florentino Perez vowed to spend €150 million (£130m) on a marquee signing this summer, rumours have swirled over who will become Los Blancos' next Galactico.

Paris Saint-Germain pair Joao Neves and Vitinha were initially linked as potential arrivals but rumours of a big-money bid for Michael Olise have intensified in more recent weeks.

In fact, a recent report from Spanish publication MARCA claimed Olise, who is currently with the France national team at this summer's World Cup, has been declared Madrid's top target.

"Real Madrid still has those 150 million euros safely tucked away, but it seems clear that taking Olise from the Allianz Arena will cost more," the report claimed.

"In fact, Real Madrid could raise their bid above 200 million euros, with a limit of around 220 million."

Michael Olise is one of Bayern Munich's top players. Image credit: Getty

However, Real Madrid have moved to deny those claims. In a statement on their official website, they confirmed no contact has been made with the player or his representatives.

They also state recent reports and speculation “do not correspond to reality" before highlighting their “excellent institutional relationship” with Bayern.

Real Madrid's statement on Michael Olise rumours in full

The statement read: "In response to reports in various media outlets regarding an alleged interest from our club in Bayern Munich player Michael Olise, Real Madrid CF wishes to state that it has not had any direct or indirect contact with the aforementioned player, his representatives, or anyone in his entourage.

"Real Madrid also wishes to highlight the excellent institutional relationship it maintains with Bayern Munich, with whom it shares a long history of mutual respect, collaboration and admiration, and regrets the spread of speculation that does not correspond to reality.

"Both clubs have always maintained a relationship based on trust and mutual respect, which is reflected, among other aspects, in the shared conviction that any potential interest in a player belonging to the other club must be dealt with first between the entities themselves, in accordance with the principles of institutional loyalty that have historically governed the relations between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid."