Real Madrid News
Arsenal interested in signing €20 million-rated Real Madrid defender – report
According to Mundo Deportivo, Real Madrid could be set for an Arsenal raid this summer, with the Premier League giants interested in securing the services of Ferland Mendy.
Following a botched title challenge this season, Mikel Arteta has deemed it necessary to address some of the glaring issues in the squad this summer. One of the priorities is to sign a new left-back ahead of the new season.
That is where Mendy comes into the picture. The Real Madrid star has endured a difficult season, marred by injuries. But he is regarded highly among his peers, due to his ability to provide width out wide and put crosses into the box.
Real Madrid, for their part, are open to sanctioning the sale of Mendy, as part of their plans to restructure the squad. In order to offset the potential loss of the Frenchman, the club have been linked with a move for Alphonso Davies, among others.
However, as far as Mendy is concerned, Real Madrid might not yield much from the sale of the Frenchman. As per the report, Arsenal are looking to start negotiations from just €20 million, which is a paltry figure given the fact that Los Blancos had signed him for nearly €50 million.
Injuries have played a key role in devaluing Mendy, while the player has also faced criticism for his lack of consistency and limited potential. Generating a sizable sum out of the fullback’s sale, therefore, could be tricky for the Spanish giants this summer.
However, Mendy will not be the only player leaving Santiago Bernabeu, with Real Madrid also keen on offloading other fringe players in the team, in an attempt to generate enough revenue that could help them bag their top targets this summer.
Real Madrid News
Former Real Madrid manager defends Vinicius following red card vs Villarreal: ‘I don’t see intentionality’
Real Madrid resumed their campaign with a narrow win over Villarreal and three points, but it was yet another controversial affair due to refereeing decisions.
Vinicius Jr thought he had doubled Madrid’s lead against Villarreal, only for the goal to be chalked off and the Brazilian to be sent off in the same breath.
A VAR review showed Vinicius had tugged the hair of Villarreal’s Nathan Saliba in the build-up, prompting referee Isidro Diaz de Mera to void the goal and brandish a straight red.
The decision has split opinion, and one Madrid great has come out firmly in the forward’s corner.
Jorge Valdano on Vinicius’ red
Former real Madrid player and manager Jorge Valdano, speaking to Movistar, saw little malice in the incident.
“It’s an absolutely instinctive gesture. He feels they’re closing him in, he wants to get rid of it, and he does it in the most illegal way he can find,” he said (h/t Mundo Deportivo).
Drawing a distinction with more serious offences, he added: “It would make the difference between what is a spit, for example, and what this is.”
The former World Cup winner was unequivocal in his assessment of the act itself. “I don’t see any intentionality, the dirtyness of the action,” he concluded.
Ominous time for Vinicius
Valdano’s sympathy will do little to console Vinicius Jr., who might be staring at a lengthy suspension after the red card incident.
The Brazilian is already at risk of missing the Clasico on October 25, with the final disciplinary ruling still to come.
The referee’s report logs two separate matters. The first is the hair pull itself; the second is his reaction, described as continued loud protests and an aggressive approach to the official that forced Federico Valverde, Antonio Rudiger and others to restrain him.
Depending on how that conduct is classified, the suspension could stretch to two, three or four games. The one reprieve is that the red card is domestic, leaving Vinicius free for Tuesday’s Champions League trip to Roma.
