Real Madrid News
Alonso talks Huijsen, Courtois, Gonzalo, Fran, Mbappe, PSG after Real Madrid 3-2 Borussia Dortmund
Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso was honest after the tight 3-2 win over Borussia Dortmund. He admitted the game was a bit too tense at the end, saying, “Maybe it’s good that we stay on our toes for the next match.”
His focus is now fully on the big semi-final against PSG, which he called a “great game” that everyone is excited for.
Alonso shared that his team had the match under control until the 80th minute. “We were solid with and without the ball. But after our third goal, things got messy for a couple of minutes,” he said.
Luckily for Real Madrid, they still secured their spot in the semi-finals, which brought a smile to Alonso’s face.
On Huijsen’s red card
When asked about Dean Huijsen’s red card, Alonso admitted he had not decided how it would affect their preparations. “I’ll think about it later, maybe on the plane. But it’s not good news,” he noted.
Fran Garcia earned praise as the best player on the pitch. “He was brilliant, very focused, and showed perfect timing.
“He took advantage of the space Vini created and scored because he pushed forward at the right time,” Alonso explained. He added that García’s attitude has been excellent.
On TAA, Gonzalo, Mbappe
Alonso also talked about Trent Alexander-Arnold’s performance. “He’s only been here three weeks after 15 years at Liverpool. He’s still adapting. He had a solid first half and is learning fast. We’re supporting him every day,” said Alonso.
He praised Gonzalo Garcia, who keeps scoring important goals. “He knows where to be and when to finish. He’s proving he’s a real goalscorer,” he stated.
Speaking about Kylian Mbappe, Alonso said, “He’s looking good, but not quite at 100 percent yet. He’ll get better, and we hope he feels perfect for the semi-final.”
On Courtois and facing PSG
On goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Alonso couldn’t hide his appreciation. “Courtois is incredible. That last save was huge.
“Having him gives us so much confidence. He’s the kind of player who wins you games.”
Finally, Alonso shared his excitement about facing PSG. “It’s going to be a huge test.
“They’ve been in great form since the Champions League round of 16. It will be tough, but we’re growing as a team and ready for the challenge.”
Source: AS
According to TeamTalk, Real Madrid have joined the growing list of clubs monitoring Gabriel Rajkovic, a 15-year-old winger whose rapid development at Valerenga has already attracted attention from several of Europe’s leading sides.
The Merengues are known for keeping an eye on exciting young talent across the globe and it seems that Rajkovic’s exploits in Norway, with the first team, have alerted them.
Real Madrid keeping tabs on Rajkovic
As per the report, Real Madrid are among a host of clubs closely following the progress of the young forward.
Rajkovic holds both Norwegian and Serbian nationality and has emerged as one of the most promising young players in Norway.
His development has not gone unnoticed, with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund also understood to be monitoring him.
However, at this point, it is Arsenal and Chelsea, who are understood to be leading the charge for Rajkovic, having compiled a detailed dossier on the teenage prodigy after extensive scouting.
On top of that, the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have all watched Rajkovic in recent weeks.
Real Madrid could therefore face significant competition if they decide to step up their interest in a player who has already made an impression at senior level.
Making an impact at just 15
Rajkovic was handed a promotion to the Valerenga first-team squad in January earlier this year, when he was only 14 years old.
Following that, he signed a new contract with the club in March, when he turned 15, committing to the club until 2028.
Despite being only 15, the winger has already begun gaining experience in first-team football. In all, he has made 14 senior appearances for the Norwegian outfit, scoring three and assisting one goal.
Rajkovic has also represented Norway Under-16s, making two appearances and scoring once despite being younger than many of his teammates.
Those numbers become more impressive when his age and stage of development are taken into account.
Real Madrid have built a reputation for identifying young talent well before players reach their peak, and Rajkovic has now emerged as another name on their scouting radar.
But given the number of clubs in the race, signing the teenage wonderkid will not be easy.
