Real Madrid News
Five shots, two goals: Real Madrid’s surprise summer signing leaves early impression on Jose Mourinho
Carlos Espi arrived at Real Madrid with far less attention than most of the club’s summer signings.
In fact, his move came as something of a surprise, especially after Los Blancos had decided to sell academy striker Gonzalo Garcia to Fulham.
But a few weeks into Jose Mourinho’s pre-season, the former Levante forward has already given Real Madrid plenty to think about, reports AS.
Espi finished the summer preparations as the team’s top scorer, finding the net twice in four appearances despite not starting a single game.
For a player brought in without major expectations, it has been an impressive introduction to life at Valdebebas.
Mourinho’s search for a new No. 9 led Real Madrid to Espi
Accoridng to the outlet, the No. 9 position was one of the areas Mourinho examined closely after taking charge of Real Madrid.
Gonzalo Garcia was initially not expected to leave, with Mourinho blocking his departure. However, Fulham’s financial proposal eventually changed the situation.
There was also a question of profile.
Gonzalo did not fully match what Mourinho wanted from a supporting striker, while Real Madrid saw Espi as a player capable of filling a different role.
Simply put, the comparison points towards the type of impact Joselu once provided: physical, a willingness to work for the team and the ability to make a difference without requiring many touches or chances.
Espi’s pre-season numbers support that idea.
Across 153 minutes in four matches, all as a substitute, the striker attempted just five shots. Four of them were on target, and two found the net.
He will therefore begin the La Liga season as Real Madrid’s top scorer from pre-season.
Two goals and a growing role at Valdebebas
Espi’s impact has not been limited to the scoreline, as the 21-year-old is settling well into his new surroundings and is already becoming a popular figure within the squad.
According to AS, Joan Martinez has played a role in helping him adapt to the dressing room through a personal connection, while the striker has also begun building an understanding with some of the other new arrivals.
One such connection was visible against Schalke, where Marc Cucurella delivered the cross, and Espi attacked it to score with his head.
Despite his antics, it is crucial to note that this does not mean Espi will suddenly become a regular starter.
He knows minutes will be difficult to come by at Real Madrid and that he will have to make the most of every opportunity. But he has made sure the manager knows what he is capable of.
Real Madrid News
Jose Mourinho was always clear about getting rid of Real Madrid midfielder this summer – report
Real Madrid’s summer transfer window was largely successful, not only in terms of securing key arrivals but also in terms of letting go of players who had no place in the dynamics.
One player who stood out in the second category was Dani Ceballos as the Spanish midfielder was frozen out of Real Madrid’s starting dynamics for several years before his eventual departure.
In the end, the club simply let the player leave as a free agent by accepting a contract termination as they saw the salary space freed as a win compared to his presence.
Mourinho’s clear stance
As confirmed in a recent report by Diario AS, Real Madrid’s new manager Jose Mourinho has no doubt that he did not count on Ceballos for the ongoing season.
Being the straightforward communicator that he is, the Portuguese manager directly informed Ceballos that he did not count on him in any capacity, speaking out loud about a fact that was known as an open secret for a long time.
Having clarity that his situation at the club was not going to change, Ceballos pressed to leave and eventually had his way as the club allowed him to walk out of the front door with no transfer fee.
Times were tense
The Spanish outlet also add that the decision to let the player leave with a contract termination was not easy for Real Madrid to accept, especially given that it is a last resort.
In the negotiations between Ceballos and the Real Madrid hierarchy, there were some moments filled with tension and disagreements.
In fact, there was even an initial exit agreement that was reached which was cancelled in the hope of a better outcome.
Eventually, however, both parties reached a fitting resolution and Real Madrid enabled the player’s departure without any hurdles and Ceballos went on to join Real Betis.
Even that move required the player to take a massive cut on his salary, but the saga worked out well for both clubs as the player. From Real Madrid’s perspective, the space created on the team’s roster was worth its weight in gold.
