Crystal Palace’s flying wingback Daniel Muñoz has unashamedly hauled himself into the shop window during November’s international break, revealing it would be his “dream” to join a club like Manchester United, Barcelona or Real Madrid.
Muñoz has not always been destined for greatness. The Colombia international didn’t leave his domestic league until 2021 and was 27 by the time Crystal Palace whisked him away from Belgian side Genk for €8 million (£7.1 million, $9.3 million) in 2024. It hasn’t been a straightforward international trajectory: Muñoz’s debut lasted three minutes before he was shown a straight red card against Peru.
However, the indefatigable defender has hit a rich vein of form over the past 18 months. Thriving in the back-three system Palace’s Oliver Glasner has devised, Muñoz’s industry and dexterity has earned him a justifiable reputation as one of best right backs in world football.
Despite the trophy glut Palace have enjoyed of late, the FA Cup winner has loftier ambitions. “First of all, I think there’s a lot of talk about one club or another. If you ask me, it would be a dream to play for one of these clubs, whether it’s Barcelona, PSG, Real Madrid or Manchester United,” Muñoz declared this week, as quoted by .
“I think I’m working towards that; I strive every day to one day catch the attention of one of these clubs, because for me, it’s a dream to get there.”
According to Spanish media, Muñoz has certainly caught the eye of at least Barcelona. The Catalan outfit have routinely been linked with a move for the Premier League gem as an alternative—or replacement—to Jules Kounde, who is inherently more defensively minded than the buccaneering Colombian.
Real Madrid rarely take their name out of the hat for a player of Muñoz’s quality while Paris Saint-Germain could be in need of a defender this winter in the expected absence of the injured Achraf Hakimi. Yet, he may be best suited to staying in England.
