Real Madrid News
Benfica goalkeeper emerges as candidate to replace Thibaut Courtois at Real Madrid
At 34 years of age, Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois is showing no signs of slowing down and has maintained his quality and consistency year after year.
Such is the player’s level that he will continue as Real Madrid’s first-choice goalkeeper beyond any doubt, and all signs point to him even extending his stay at the Spanish capital.
Real Madrid are already said to be working on the Belgian star’s continuity, but the fact remains that he does not have much longer left at the highest level. Planning for a long-term replacement, thus, is already underway.
A Ukrainian option
As reported by Portuguese sporting outlet A BOLA (h/t Madrid Xtra), Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin is a goalkeeper whom Real Madrid appreciate and continue to keep an eye on in that regard.
He is on Los Blancos’ list as a future Courtois replacement, especially given his quality, consistency, and his age. At just 24 years of age, he still has the better part and prime of his career ahead of him.
Several clubs are already in his pursuit including Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and PSG, and Real Madrid are only the latest entrants on the list. Notably, however, he is not the only player being considered by the club and is just one of the several candidates on their list.
Jose Mourinho’s influence
Playing at Benfica, Trubin has worked closely with Real Madrid’s current manager Jose Mourinho, who was at the Portuguese club until a few months ago.
Their relationship and history working together, needless to say, can play a massive role in boosting Trubin’s name up Real Madrid’s wish-list.
After all, the player put in sensational shifts when Los Blancos played against Benfica in the UEFA Champions League last season.
Notably, Trubin’s compatriot Andriy Lunin is currently Courtois’ backup at Real Madrid and the club intends to keep him for next season as matters stand, especially given the veteran’s worrying injury record.
Last season, the 24-year-old star made 32 league appearances for Benfica and oversaw 13 clean sheets with an average of 2.3 saves per game and a save percentage of 75%.
He also saved 50% of the penalties he faced and conceded only 0.8 goals per game in the competition.
Real Madrid News
Rayo Vallecano manager names the one Real Madrid figure he would remove from the team
Rayo Vallecano face a daunting trip to the Santiago Bernabeu to take on a wounded Real Madrid this weekend.
Life after Inigo Perez has not been kind to the Vallecas-based club, who have already had to travel to Camp Nou and now face a trip to the home of their city giants.
Speaking ahead of the game (h/t Madrid Xtra), Rayo Vallecano manager Benat San Jose was asked which Real Madrid player he would like to remove from the team before this weekend’s game.
Surprisingly, his choice was not Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior or Thibaut Courtois.
“Mourinho”
Asked which Madrid player he would take out of the upcoming contest, Benat jokingly chose the man sitting on the opposition bench.
“Which Real Madrid player I’d remove from the match against them? Mourinho,” Benat said with a laugh.
The answer might have been delivered jokingly, but the Rayo coach immediately made clear just how highly he rates the Portuguese manager.
“He’s one of the best managers in history,” he added.
It is significant praise ahead of Saturday’s meeting at the Bernabeu.
Madrid’s squad contains enough individual quality to give any opposition coach several obvious answers, but Benat instead highlighted the influence Mourinho can have over the entire team.
That has become particularly relevant since the Portuguese coach returned to Madrid. His early work has focused on making a talented group function with greater collective discipline.
Courtois and Madrid’s attack also praised
Benat did not stop with the manager.
“They also have one of the best GKs in history and one of the best attackers in history,” he said.
Benat will definitely have seen how Thibaut Courtois played against Inter Milan in midweek and will hope that version does not turn up again this weekend.
Even when teams manage to create opportunities against Madrid, they still have to beat one of the defining goalkeepers of his generation.
At the opposite end, Madrid possess attacking quality capable of turning a match on its head.
The likes of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham can all decide matches single-handedly.
Madrid have a point to prove
Madrid are coming off a disappointing loss to Real Betis in La Liga last weekend and will come into this game with a point to prove.
They will want to ensure that the loss to the Andalusian club was a one-off and that they return to winning ways against Rayo.
Their title rivals, Barça, have been flying high in the league, scoring goals and picking opponents apart for fun.
Madrid need to ensure that they do not hand too much early incentive to Barça, and it remains to be seen how Los Blancos fare against Rayo Vallecano.
