Real Madrid News
Former Real Madrid director blames players for Xabi Alonso’s dismissal: ‘Not a problem with coaches’
The sudden and impromptu dismissal of Xabi Alonso from Real Madrid has drawn strong reactions from footballing personalities worldwide.
Voices such as Manuel Pellegrini and Thierry Henry have voiced their displeasure and the latest to join the bandwagon is former Real Madrid player and director Predrag Mijatovic.
Appearing on Cadena SER (h/t Mundo Deportivo), Mijatovic fired shots at Real Madrid players, blaming them for the dismissal of Alonso, more than anything else.
What Mijatovic said about Alonso’s exit
Mijatovic started by pointing out that Alonso’s exit was too rushed, and he was caught by surprise.
“For me, it’s been a bit rushed after the last few matches where Madrid played better.
Perhaps he’s come too soon, or perhaps he lacks a bit more experience,” he said.
He went on to praise Alonso’s successor, Alvaro Arbeloa, notably commending him for a confident press conference.
“Arbeloa was fantastic. He was very, very good throughout the entire press conference. Very confident.
“At no point did I see him nervous, like, ‘Oh my God, what is this?’ And that tells me he knows perfectly well what he’s dealing with, and that’s very important for a coach,” he added.
Mijatovic, who played for Real Madrid between 1996 and 1999, went on to back Arbeloa to succeed at Santiago Bernabeu.
“I think he can do a good job, because I’ve seen him very confident, as if he knows exactly what he wants to do and knows the club very well,” he said.
However, the highlight of the interview saw Mijatovic lambast the Real Madrid players, blaming them for the exit of Alonso and previously, Carlo Ancelotti.
“It’s not easy, obviously. Last year, the team wasn’t doing well and Ancelotti left. He left Alonso, and now Alonso has left. So perhaps it’s not a problem with coaches, but rather a problem with the players who may have lost their hunger,” he concluded.
Real Madrid News
Arsenal, Manchester City had held talks with Real Madrid star over potential move – report
Real Madrid’s Arda Guler has been one of the standout performers for Los Blancos in an otherwise inconsistent start to the season.
The 21-year-old’s rise has not gone unnoticed in the Premier League, with a host of England’s biggest clubs keeping close tabs on the Turkey international.
Now, fresh details have emerged over just how serious that interest became during the summer.
Arsenal and City held talks over Guler
According to Graemy Bailey, both Arsenal and Manchester City held discussions with Guler’s representatives over a potential summer switch to England.
The two clubs were in the market for elite attacking reinforcements and are said to have outlined their plans for the player while attempting to tempt him away from the Spanish capital.
There was hope among the interested parties that Guler’s standing at the Bernabeu might become less secure under new head coach Jose Mourinho, potentially opening the door for an exit.
Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United are also understood to have made contact with his camp during the year, underlining just how coveted the playmaker has become.
Guler commits his future to Madrid
Those hopes, however, have now been firmly extinguished.
Guler had been given assurances by the club’s hierarchy that he remained central to their long-term plans, and he is understood to be a major favourite of president Florentino Perez.
Far from pushing him out, Mourinho has made his admiration clear, handing the youngster regular minutes and a growing role in the side.
That faith was on full display on Wednesday, when Guler delivered two assists as Madrid came from behind to win a thrilling 4-3 contest at Roma.
His future is now effectively settled. Guler has reportedly agreed a new contract that ties him to the club until at least 2031, extending a deal that previously ran to 2029 and rewarding his progress with a salary increase.
