Real Madrid News
Ancelotti defends Real Madrid sensation amid poor international displays – ‘Convinced he will show his best firm’
Carlo Ancelotti has started his journey as Brazil’s head coach with enthusiasm and optimism, especially when it comes to Vinicius Jr.
In his first press conference before Brazil’s match against Ecuador, the former Real Madrid manager could not stop praising the 24-year-old forward.
According to Ancelotti, his first few training sessions with the national team have been “something special,” and he is determined to bring the best version of Vinicius to the Brazil shirt.
Vinicius Jr., who has just recovered from a minor ankle injury, is set to feature in Ancelotti’s debut match on the sidelines for Brazil.
“Vini is fine and is motivated as always,” said the Italian coach. “We expect the best from him. He is obviously a key player for us.”
Bringing club form to country
Ancelotti is aware of the ongoing debate about why Vinicius has not quite replicated his Real Madrid form for the national team.
However, he expressed complete confidence that it is only a matter of time before that changes.
“He may not have shown his best yet in the Brazil shirt, but I’m convinced he will,” Ancelotti said.
“At Madrid, he’s proved time and again that he’s a game-changer. We have to work to ensure he feels the same here,” added the new Brazil head coach
He emphasised that Vinicius is fundamental to his plans, even if performances occasionally dip.
“He might not always be at his best, but his qualities are unique. He’s unpredictable and can shift the momentum of any game. That’s why he’s so vital to us,” Ancelotti concluded.
Vinicius’ form for the Brazil national team has been questionable, but now with Ancelotti at helm, the South American nation has enough optimism to hope for a better output from the Real Madrid forward.
Source: SPORT
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.
