Real Madrid News
Boost for Real Madrid ahead of derby vs Atletico as midfielder returns to training
After beating Liverpool earlier this week in the UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid are set for another stern test when they face Atletico Madrid in La Liga on Saturday.
The Merengues are currently eight points off of leaders Barcelona and will have a golden opportunity to reduce that to five points with a victory against their local rivals at the Santiago Bernabeu.
And, ahead of the big game on Saturday, Real Madrid have been handed a major fitness boost as midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni has returned to training today.
This claim comes from Melchor Ruiz of COPE, who has confirmed that the Frenchman has trained with the team today, along with veteran midfielder Toni Kroos.
Tchouameni was a late exclusion from Real Madrid’s La Liga clash against Osasuna last weekend due to a bout of flu. Following that the 2022 FIFA World Cup finalist did not recover in time for the Champions League clash against Liverpool either.
Having missed back-to-back matches due to illness, Tchouameni was seen back in training today which comes as a big boost for Real Madrid as they gear up to take on their neighbours in the Madrid derby.
While Tchouameni is back in training, the same cannot be said of left-back Ferland Mendy, who has been out injured for a while now.
Meanwhile, David Alaba and Rodrygo Goes, both of whom picked up knocks against Liverpool, also did not participate in training and are doubts for the derby against Atletico Madrid.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid weighing up January move for €70 million-rated Arsenal midfielder – report
Real Madrid’s midfield is the one department where Jose Mourinho sees clear scope for improvement, especially given that the club did not sanction his wish for a top midfield signing in the summer.
While Bernardo Silva has chipped in as a handy option to feature in the deep midfield, the club still lacks a controlling and creative option who can glue the team together.
In that sense, there is a clear lacuna that Real Madrid need to address and Defensa Central brings to light that the club have opened up to a potential target.
Zubimendi emerges as a target
Indeed, the player in question is Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi who the club have seen as a target for a long time, and Real Madrid could even go on to sign him in January.
The Spanish international has not started off the new season well under Mikel Arteta and has primarily featured as a substitute. He does, thus, see a move to Madrid with good eyes in every sense.
Real Madrid, for their part, have not ruled out his signing as was reported in recent months and there is even a chance they seriously pursue him in the winter transfer window as a mid-season fix.
The possible fee
The Spanish outlet also add that Zubimendi’s move to Real Madrid could be completed for a fee similar to what Arsenal paid for the player for his transfer from Real Sociedad – €70 million.
Mourinho’s insistence on making a new midfield signing is no secret, and with a clear target now in mind, the board could well back him with the player he wishes.
Notably, however, even Chelsea are seriously interested in his signing.
So far, Federico Valverde has been Real Madrid’s mainstay in midfield, and Aurelien Tchouameni’s return will change the team’s dynamics in the department.
Neither player, however, offers the control and distribution skill set that the team direly lack.
A big part of whether or not the club pushes for Zubimendi, however, will depend on how the Valverde-Tchouameni combination plays out in the coming months. It is, after all, the manager’s first-choice combination for big games.
