Real Madrid News
Arbeloa has ‘four finals’ to prove himself as Real Madrid enter season-defining stretch
Alvaro Arbeloa’s Real Madrid are about to emerge from a rare two-week period of focused training into a whirlwind schedule that will likely determine the fate of their season.
With the club still reeling from their failures in the Super Cup and Copa del Rey, the next 12 days have been internally framed as four finals, reports AS.
Season-defining stretch for Real Madrid
The marathon begins this Saturday as Madrid host a resurgent Real Sociedad at the Bernabeu, followed by a daunting trip to face Osasuna at El Sadar.
These domestic fixtures are critical; sitting just one point behind Barcelona, any slip-up could allow the Catalans to pull away as they face relegation-threatened opposition.
Interspersed between these league clashes is a high-stakes Champions League playoff against Jose Mourinho’s Benfica.
Having failed to secure a Top 8 spot, Madrid must now navigate a two-legged tie on February 17 and 25 to reach the Round of 16.
The Portuguese side already humbled Arbeloa with a 4-2 victory in the group phase, with goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin notably scoring a late goal.
Fitness guru Antonio Pintus has utilised the recent break to implement gruelling physical sessions, but the squad remains severely depleted.
The onus is now on Arbeloa must navigate these finals without several key pillars, as Rodrygo is currently sidelined with hamstring tendinosis and suspended for the Benfica tie.
Furthermore, defensive and midfield absences continue with Eder Militao and Jude Bellingham remaining out, while Marco Asensio is struggling with a tibia fracture, and Kylian Mbappe continues to struggle with a lingering left knee injury.
In that respect, Real Madrid are betting heavily on the fitness of Antonio Rudiger, who is seen as a Champions League expert of sorts.
With two major titles still within reach, Arbeloa’s men must now prove they can grit their teeth and survive the most demanding stretch of the campaign.
Real Madrid News
Italian journalist claims Mourinho made a late attempt to sign veteran midfielder for Real Madrid
Italian journalist Andrea Losapio has claimed on TuttoMercato (h/t Defensa Central) that Real Madrid attempted to sign Marcelo Brozovic as a free agent after the Croatian midfielder’s contract with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr expired.
The 33-year-old attracted the interest of Jose Mourinho, who is said to have personally called the former Inter Milan star in an attempt to convince him to move to Spain.
However, the two parties were unable to reach an agreement.
Brozovic remains without a club and could now return to Italian football. According to the journalist, the midfielder has already rejected approaches from Trabzonspor and Monaco, while Fiorentina are continuing negotiations over a possible move.
“The midfielder also received a call from Jose Mourinho, who was trying to find a solution for him to play in Spain. However, no agreement was reached,” Losapio said.
Experienced addition
If signed, Brozovic would have provided Mourinho with another option in midfield, particularly when it came to rotating the squad and controlling games from deeper positions.
It must be noted that Real Madrid had been searching for a midfielder of a similar profile all summer and had even come close to signing Rodri, who later chose to join FC Barcelona.
Brozovic would have offered experience, balance and control from the holding midfield position at Real Madrid.
At 33, the Croatian has enjoyed an outstanding career at the highest level, particularly during his time at Inter Milan, where he became an important figure over several seasons.
Despite his quality and experience, however, Real Madrid’s interest did not result in a deal.
Fiorentina pushing for a deal
Brozovic is still considering his next destination after leaving Al Nassr and has yet to make a definitive decision.
Fiorentina currently appear to be one of the strongest contenders for Brozovic’s signature. The Serie A club are continuing talks with the midfielder and hope to persuade him to return to Italy, although an agreement has yet to be reached.
As for Real Madrid, they decided against another midfield signing and are relying on Bernardo Silva as an option for the deep-lying playmaker role.
