Real Madrid News
Casemiro had informed Ancelotti about decision to leave after UCL final – report
Writing for The Athletic, journalist Laurie Whitewell has revealed that Casemiro’s departure from Santiago Bernabeu wasn’t really a surprise as the Brazilian had asked to leave soon after winning the UEFA Champions League in Paris last season.
Following the humiliating 0-4 defeat to Brentford, which left United reeling at the bottom of the table, a Manchester United delegation was sent to Madrid to negotiate a deal for the Brazilian.
United’s decision to move their attention to Casemiro came after the deal for Adrien Rabiot collapsed. It is even claimed that the Premier League side had settled on a fee, but the player’s wage demand took the deal south.
This was when Casemiro became a reality for Manchester United. Three days after the Brentford defeat, the Manchester United representatives flew to Madrid to set up a meeting with Casemiro.
Interestingly enough, talks concluded within 24 hours and unlike what’s been said in Spain, Manchester United did not actually double his salary. In fact, the Brazil international only received a slight raise.
Furthermore, his contract with United includes a potential cut down as well, but that will only be activated if the record Premier League champions fail to qualify for next year’s UEFA Champions League.
What worked in United’s favour during the talk was Casemiro’s appeal to take a new challenge. The 30-year-old had first asked Madrid president Florentino Perez to let him leave after the UCL triumph and repeated his wish upon returning from holiday.
Madrid were initially reluctant, but as the player continued to push, the defending La Liga champions agreed and the player’s agent informed United to carry on with the formalities.
Whitewell also writes that all this was done while United continue to pursue a certain Frenkie de Jong. Any deal for the Dutchman, however, was costing United over €150 million which included transfer fee and wages over four years combined.
But as soon as Casemiro was acquired, the interest in de Jong cooled and everyone involved carried on.
Arda Guler’s Real Madrid stint has not gotten off to the start he would have hoped to have given the expectation that preceded the transfer.
Having joined in the summer after Real Madrid outbid their competition to win him over from Fenerbahce for a 20-million-euro fee, buzz was high as the winger was expected to slot into the team quite seamlessly, albeit on a rotational basis.
Unfortunately for the 18-year-old, he has been constantly marred by injuries since completing the move.
Reports have stated that after Guler picked up his third injury since his move, Real Madrid have been concerned and want to take things slow with the player to ensure he is fit as soon as possible after an injury to his quadriceps this time.
The Turk is yet to make his competitive debut for the club, and Real Madrid even sacked their medical chief in November, in light of their injury crises since the beginning of the season.
No loan deal for Guler
However, according to Fabrizio Romano in a recent YouTube video, he states that Madrid maintain full trust and patience in the youngster.
Despite his bad luck with injuries, the latest of which he is scheduled to return from after Christmas, the Galacticos have no intention of loaning out Guler to Turkish clubs despite lots of speculation of them doing so of late.
Romano states that Madrid remain firm on not shaking things up too much with the squad, and they want to keep their roster stable, including Arda Guler.
They want to extend their full support and protection to the player as he aims to return to full fitness and finally make his bow for Madrid either by the end of this month or in 2024.
