It is no secret that Real Madrid remain very interested in signing Angelo Stiller from Stuttgart.

The 24-year-old midfielder is seen as one of the few genuine pivots available on the market, exactly the profile Los Blancos need in the post-Toni Kroos era.

However, the Spanish giants now face an unexpected obstacle in their pursuit of the German.

Stiller has grown in value over the last season, with his performances in the Bundesliga catching the eye of several top clubs and Xabi Alonso's influence in the scouting process has played a key role in pushing Stiller's name to the top of Madrid's shortlist.

The former Bayern Munich man fits perfectly into the mould that Real Madrid are targeting, which is a calm organiser who can sit deep and control the pace of the game.

As reported by SPORT, it has come to light that despite Real Madrid's strong interest, the transfer won't be as straightforward as it first seemed.

Although Stiller has a release clause worth €36.5 million, that clause only becomes active in 2026.

Until then, Stuttgart can block any approach by paying just €2 million directly to the player, cancelling the clause entirely and forcing interested clubs to negotiate a fresh fee.

This gives Stuttgart a major advantage, especially if multiple clubs enter the race. Liverpool, Ajax, and West Ham have also shown interest in the midfielder, and the German club is reportedly happy to trigger a bidding war.

With Stiller's contract running until 2028, Stuttgart are in no rush to sell unless their financial demands are fully met.

Even though Stiller is reportedly eager to join Real Madrid, that may not be enough to complete the move.

The club must now act carefully, as they want to avoid an inflated bidding process. This is why having the player's full commitment could be their best weapon to gain an edge in the negotiations.