Real Madrid News
Carlo Ancelotti talks Manchester City, Mbappe, Florentino Perez
As we enter the final phase of the 2021/22 season, the penultimate stage of the UEFA Champions League will kick off next week.
Real Madrid, who had to overcome Chelsea in a gruelling quarter-final match-up, have been drawn against Premier League champions Manchester City in the semi-finals.
Los Blancos have had tough draws in each of the stages of the competition this term, having had to overcome PSG and Chelsea in the previous two rounds. And the challenge against Pep Guardiola’s team will be huge for Carlo Ancelotti & co.
The Italian tactician addressed that in an interview recently, insisting that Real Madrid have the quality to go all the way in the competition by overcoming the Cityzens.
“Real Madrid has history, tradition and quality to compete until the end. Now we have a tough challenge against City,” he said.
Ancelotti also commented on the removal of the away-goal rule from the European competitions this season, insisting that the change added to the excitement of the contest.
“The new rule of goals away from home, which are no longer worth twice as much, makes these challenges more balanced and exciting,” the Real Madrid manager added.
The manager was also inevitably quizzed about the future of Kylian Mbappe, who has heavily been linked with a move to Real Madrid this summer.
Ancelotti did not address the question head-on, but praised president Florentino Perez, insisting that the club will have a bright future thanks to the supremo.
“Kylian Mbappé future? The future of Madrid, thanks to Florentino, will be of a high level beyond the players who come. The club will have a new stadium and will continue to make history there,” Ancelotti replied.
Finally, talking about how he was enjoying his second stint as the manager of Real Madrid, he said: “I can say that I’m a lucky coach. I’m training a team I feel very identified with and a team that gives me great satisfaction. I’m the one who has to thank Real Madrid for giving me the opportunity to train this team again.”
Source: Rai Radio 1
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.
