Real Madrid News
Ex-Real Madrid boss believes club will sign Mbappe: “Need a striker who guarantees 30 goals”
Speaking to BILD (h/t AS), former Real Madrid player and manager Bernd Schuster has claimed that the club will sign Kylian Mbappe this summer.
Real Madrid have been heavily linked with a move for the PSG superstar but things have not been moving as the forward is reluctant to leave the club this summer and prefers to join the Merengues as a free agent in 2024.
PSG, for their part, are keen on offloading their star attacker as they do not want to lose him for free next summer. As such, they are have given him a deadline of July 31 to make a decision on his future – either accept a departure now or sign a new contract.
Real Madrid, for their part, are waiting on the sidelines to make a move if he becomes available. If not, the Merengues are more than happy to wait for the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner until next year.
However, Schuster reckons that the Spanish capital club will sign Mbappe this summer as they need a striker who can score 30-40 goals per season and cannot rely on Joselu to do so following the departure of Karim Benzema.
“I can’t imagine Joselu becoming Real Madrid’s regular centre-forward. Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema have always scored 30 or 40 goals a season in the last ten years, Joselu won’t do that. That’s why I think Florentino Perez will sign Mbappe this summer,” the former Real Madrid and Barcelona footballer said.
At the same time, the German football icon urged that Mbappe needs to leave PSG as he is wasting his golden years there, saying:
“Mbappe needs to get into one of the top three leagues in Europe as soon as possible, and Real Madrid still need a striker who guarantees at least 30 goals.
“The disappointment at PSG is getting bigger and bigger. He is losing his golden years there. He has to leave PSG now.”
Manager Carlo Ancelotti was asked about Real Madrid’s pursuit of Mbappe on Thursday but chose to remain tight-lipped on the situation. Everything will depend on the superstar and PSG resolving the issue, with Los Blancos ready and waiting to swoop in.
In a major update, AS reports that former Real Madrid midfielder and club legend Toni Kroos has taken his first step towards starting his coaching career.
The former Germany international has told the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) that he is interested in joining the coaching course reserved for professional footballers.
Real Madrid tried to bring Kroos back
It is no secret that Real Madrid considered bringing Toni Kroos back into the club’s structure after the end of the last season.
The club president, Florentino Perez, had wanted Kroos to have a daily presence at Valdebebas rather than making occasional appearances after his retirement.
Jose Angel Sanchez and Kroos spoke after Perez expressed his desire to see the German working at Valdebebas every day. However, they did not find the right moment, time or structure to give his return a clear form.
A comeback remains one of the possibilities most desired by Madrid supporters because of Kroos’ charisma and what he represents at the Santiago Bernabeu. Neither side wanted him to return simply for the sake of it, so the door remains open for the future.
The relationship between the two parties is excellent, and both know that the opportunity to work together again will eventually come.
Taking it step by step
For now, Kroos continues to run the academy he established in Boadilla, enjoying the opportunity to help develop younger players.
After two years away from the competitive side of football, however, he is beginning to look towards the dugout as a possible next step in his career.
Kroos currently holds coaching qualifications that allow him to work up to the third tier of Spanish football.
This is possible because professionals with at least seven years of proven experience and significant involvement at the elite level can gain direct access to accelerated coaching courses.
That means Kroos could coach a team in Primera Federacion, but the German wants to take things gradually.
Kroos has already informed the RFEF that he would be interested in joining the coaching course reserved for professional footballers during the 2027/28 season.
The course taking place this season is not available to elite former players, with UEFA limiting each campaign to 20 places.
With his current qualifications, Kroos could work as an assistant coach, but he cannot yet take charge as a head coach in either the top flight or the Segunda División.
But completing that programme would allow Kroos to obtain the UEFA A licence, which would enable him to coach teams at any level.
