Real Madrid News
Ancelotti sees Real Madrid starlet as a ‘natural replacement’ for Benzema, says agent
Speaking on Uruguayan radio Sport 890 (h/t AS), Alejandro Camano, the agent of Real Madrid starlet Alvaro Rodriguez has opened up on how manager Carlo Ancelotti rates the teenage striker very highly.
The 18-year-old striker signed for Real Madrid’s youth academy in 2020, arriving from Girona. After impressing at the youth level and for the Castilla team, Rodriguez got his first-team break in the ongoing campaign and he has made the most of it.
In six senior appearances for Ancelotti’s team, Rodriguez has scored and assisted one goal apiece and looked bright each time he has taken the pitch.
Camano, speaking about the Uruguayan prodigy’s first-team prospects at Real Madrid, insisted that Rodriguez is viewed as the natural replacement for captain Karim Benzema in case he is unavailable due to some reasons.
“The clubs have their intentions. Ancelotti considers Álvaro a natural replacement when something happens to Benzema and Real Madrid Castilla is in a position to be promoted to Segunda A, which has not been achieved at that club for a long time,” he said.
“In terms of minutes (with Madrid’s first team), it is not important what he adds up to but he is at the best club in the world and his international profile is tremendous at only 18 years of age. He arrived from the South American Championship, made his debut, scored a goal, made assists…,” he added.
Ancelotti has previously spoken very highly of the 18-year-old Rodriguez, who has netted ten goals in 37 matches for Raul’s Castilla so far in his career.
And despite rumours about Real Madrid wanting to sign a new striker in the summer, it is expected that the Uruguayan ace will be promoted to the first-team setup next season.
Meanwhile, Rodriguez has not been involved in recent games and Camano confirmed that the young striker was dealing with an injury, as he said:
“Álvaro currently has a small, very minor tear in the hamstring area. He stopped the previous weekend and in the next few days he will gradually return to training.”
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid defender takes major step towards comeback; set for return after international break
Real Madrid are finally beginning to see a clear path back for Eder Militao, with the defender now in the final phase of his rehabilitation and increasingly expected to return after the next international break.
Militao has been sidelined since suffering a tear to the proximal biceps femoris tendon in his left leg during the meeting with Alaves last April.
The injury required surgery, but his recovery has now reached a stage where his return can be discussed in more concrete terms.
Militao steps up rehabilitation at Valdebebas
While Real Madrid completed their preparations for Tuesday night’s trip to Elche, Militao was working separately from the main group at the Valdebebas Training Centre.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the Brazilian defender carried out specific exercises with the club’s rehabilitation staff and physiotherapists on pitches 1 and 2.
The work represents another step in a recovery process that has kept him away from competitive action for several months.
Mind you, Militao will not be involved against Elche, but the latest signs are considerably more encouraging for what comes next.
Return now expected after international break
The timeline surrounding Militao’s comeback is finally becoming clearer. Provided his recovery continues at its current pace, Real Madrid expect the centre-back to be available to Mourinho once the international break is over.
That break is scheduled to take place from the end of September into the first week of October, meaning Militao could be back by mid-October at the latest.
For a defender who has endured another significant spell on the sidelines, simply having a defined target gives an important moment in his rehabilitation.
Real Madrid still missing players
Militao’s progress is particularly welcome because Real Madrid continue to deal with several absences in the squad.
On that note, Rodrygo and Ferland Mendy remain on the injury list and are not expected to return as quickly as Militao.
Both these players are therefore ruled out of the Elche fixture, leaving Mourinho without several established options.
Beyond Elche, though, Militao’s return offers Real Madrid something far more valuable: another experienced defensive option for the demanding weeks ahead.
After surgery and months of rehabilitation, the Brazilian is now entering the final stretch, and if there are no setbacks, Real Madrid could have their defender back in the squad around the middle of October.
