Real Madrid News
Ancelotti sees Modric, Kroos, Casemiro as starters next season – report
The midfield trident of Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Casemiro has served Real Madrid brilliantly for years together now.
They have been crucial to the UEFA Champions League success that Los Blancos enjoyed under Zinedine Zidane and have continued to perform at the highest level even this season.
Modric is 36 years old but continues to be a pillar of strength and poise in the middle of the park for Real Madrid. Kroos, who turned 32 in January, has had injury problems but still continues to dictate tempo in matches with his distribution.
As for Casemiro, he has not played at his highest level at times this term, but few are better than the Brazilian at what he does in the middle of the park.
There have been a lot of speculations about Real Madrid wanting to sign a new midfielder this summer to slowly phase out the senior members of their midfield department. AS Monaco’s Aurelien Tchouameni has been mentioned as a top target for the Spanish champions-elect.
However, according to the latest report from Sergio Santos of AS, Real Madrid hold an interest in the 22-year-old but do not intend to go all out for his signing, as manager Carlo Ancelotti believes that he will, at most, be a backup next season.
This is because the Italian tactician sees the trio of Modric, Casemiro and Kroos as regular starters for Real Madrid again in the upcoming campaign despite their advancing age.
In addition to that, Real Madrid also have Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga as options while Dani Ceballos is also likely to stay put. The Spaniard has made a big impression on the manager, leading to the club making an U-turn on his future and deciding to retain him.
It would mean that Real Madrid will have six central midfielders in the first-team squad, which is why they will not push hard to sign Tchouameni and only look to get him if he is available for a reasonable price.
As for Modric, Casemiro and Kroos, it seems like they will continue to play a critical role in the side come 2022/23.
Real Madrid News
Mourinho does not want Real Madrid new signing to be affected by price tag, will continue slow integration
Real Madrid had an explosive summer transfer window with as many as six new big signings coming through to strengthen the first-team squad, while Sergio Martinez was also roped in with an eye on the future.
Up until Friday, things were going well for Jose Mourinho & co., but the 1-0 loss to Real Betis has put the team under the scanner once again.
Questions are being asked, in particular, of the club’s most explosive signing, Yan Diomande.
Mourinho not changing plans with Diomande
However, according to journalist Alvaro Esteban, Mourinho will continue with the plan of integrating Diomande slowly into the team.
The Real Madrid boss does not want the 19-year-old winger to be negatively affected by his massive price tag this summer and the pressure generated because of it.
After all, Los Blancos shelled out an enormous €125 million plus €15 million in add-ons to sign Diomande from RB Leipzig.
Should all the variables be met, he will become the most expensive signing in Real Madrid history. And, naturally, such a price tag brings with it a great deal of pressure.
As such, Mourinho wants to make sure that the Ivory Coast international is not affected in any way by the talk around his price tag and will continue to ease him into the team without rushing things.
Only a handful of minutes for Diomande
So far, Real Madrid have played four La Liga games this season and Diomande has not started even one of them.
Instead, Mourinho has opted to field Arda Guler on the right wing in three matches while Brahim Diaz started in the remaining one.
As for Diomande, he has come on as a substitute in each of the four games, but has only racked up a total of 83 minutes, without scoring or assisting a goal so far.
But, his limited minutes and slow integration are seemingly a part of Mourinho’s plans who is intent on not overexposing the teenage winger and put him under undue pressure due to the expectations that come with his price tag.
