Madrid smartly inserted a buy-back clause into Andres’ contract, allowing them to secure his services for just €13m this summer or €16m in 2027. The midfielder also seized the opportunity to commend his teammate Angelo Stiller, who has also been associated with the Spanish giants.
Commenting on the dressing room banter regarding their respective futures, Andres noted: “Everyone knows about Madrid, but there have been a few jokes between us: ‘Are you off there? Am I coming and you’re leaving?’ But that’s it. He’s our best player, he’s spectacular. If you watch a Stuttgart match, you’ll see he’s the one calling the shots. He’s a top-class player and could play for any team – hopefully Madrid, or wherever he wants.”