Real Madrid News
Bayern Munich coach plays down Real Madrid rumours for €70 million defender: “A key player for us”
Real Madrid are expected to be one of the more active teams during the summer transfer window of 2024, with several positions to be reinforced, and maybe even a change of coaching staff, with Carlo Ancelotti linked to the Brazilian NT job.
Madrid will be looking to get in at least one forward, with fans hoping it comes in the form of Kylian Mbappe or Erling Haaland. The midfield will be bolstered as well, with Luka Modric and Toni Kroos not likely to continue beyond the current season.
Meanwhile, Florentino Perez will be looking to bring in a fair few players for the backline, as well. This could be Nacho’s last season at the Santiago Bernabeu, while both Lucas Vazquez and Daniel Carvajal are over 30.
The left-back, though, is arguably the biggest area of concern. Ferland Mendy and Fran Garcia are, on paper, the two players covering that role, but Ancelotti has also relied on Nacho, Carvajal, David Alaba, and Eduardo Camavinga in the past for cover.
While it is Garcia’s first season at the club, back after a successful spell at Rayo Vallecano, Mendy has been at the club for a while, and barely lived up to level that was anticipated from him. Not to forget, his terrible injury record continually puts the team in jeopardy.
As such, Madrid have been in the market looking for a left-back, and have Bayern Munich superstar Alphonso Davies on their radar. The Canadian’s contract with the Bavarians runs until 2025, and is set to be keen on a move to the Spanish capital.
However, as far as Thomas Tuchel is concerned, Davies still calls Allianz Arena home.
“He is our player. And an absolutely key player. He knows how much we value him,” he said when asked about Bayern potentially offering an extension to Davies, as relayed by Mundo Deportivo.
“For me, the duration of the player’s contract does not change anything. He is playing regularly and doing it at the highest level.”
Now 23, Davies has been at Bayern for four years already, and have won everything there is to win with the club, including the sextuple in his second season with the club under Hansi Flick.
Tuchel seems confident that Bayern will do their best to extend Davies’ stay at the club beyond 2025, “I trust the sports management. He is still a very young player, which we forget many times. He has room for improvement in every way.”
Elche manager Martin Anselmi knows his side cannot afford to spend 90 minutes simply absorbing pressure when Real Madrid arrive for Tuesday’s La Liga clash.
After showing greater resilience against Athletic Club, the Argentine wants Elche to take that confidence into one of their toughest fixtures of the season.
A 1-1 draw at San Mames provided some encouragement after a difficult opening to the campaign.
Elche had led for much of the second half before Athletic eventually found a way back, but Anselmi believes the performance offered a blueprint for what his team must do next.
“The fact that we put up a fight at San Mames makes us feel united and shows us that this is the path to follow,” said the Elche manager, as per MARCA.
Anselmi wants Elche to defend with the ball
Against Real Madrid, Anselmi does not intend to abandon the principles that helped Elche compete in Bilbao.
His preferred defensive strategy starts with keeping the ball away from the opposition.
“For us, the best way to defend is to keep possession. I think we need to show the same defensive resilience as we did at San Mames and defend with the ball.”
That approach will face a severe examination against a Real Madrid side possessing the quality to punish even brief lapses.
Elche have already conceded 13 goals this season and currently sit 19th, making defensive concentration a major concern.
On that note, Anselmi is fully aware of the individual threat Madrid possess.
“They make complicated moves look easy and push you to the limit. We mustn’t give anything away and need to stay focused throughout the match.”
The fixture arrives at an awkward time for Anselmi, who has had limited preparation time before facing Madrid, and Yago de Santiago will be the only confirmed absentee.
“The most important match is the next one. From there, we’ll see who’s in the best form and spread the workload,” said the Elche boss.
Real Madrid test comes at a crucial moment
Elche’s start to the 2026/27 season has been anything but positive.
They drew with Deportivo La Coruña before losing three consecutive games against Barcelona, Racing Santander and 10-man Real Sociedad, during which they conceded 11 goals.
The draw against Athletic halted that run, but it did not erase the defensive problems. Elche currently have the second-worst defensive record in La Liga, leaving Anselmi with little margin for error against Real Madrid.
