Real Madrid News
Florentino Perez was angry with the performance of Real Madrid stars against Man City
Real Madrid were on the receiving end of a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Manchester City on Wednesday night in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final.
It was a poor display from Carlo Ancelotti’s men at the Etihad Stadium, with Pep Guardiola’s side completely outclassing the Merengues on their way to the finals of the Champions League.
Speaking after the game, Ancelotti acknowledged that the opponents were much superior to Real Madrid on the night.
Some of the players who interacted with the media after the game also admitted that Manchester City were on a different level at the Etihad.
While it is true that the Cityzens were playing at a great level, Real Madrid did not really put up much of a fight and often looked bereft of ideas on the pitch.
Now, according to El Chiringuito’s Josep Pedrerol (h/t Madrid Xtra), Real Madrid president Florentino Perez was very angry with the way his players performed on the night at the Etihad Stadium.
It is claimed that the club supremo was so angry that he did not even speak to the players after the game was over. And it could point towards an intense summer at the Santiago Bernabeu.
There could be changes made with respect to the squad, but as things stand, it is believed that Ancelotti’s job is not under any immediate threat.
Veteran stars like Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, and Toni Kroos are all likely to continue as well, but there could be some fresh blood introduced into the roster, starting with the signing of Jude Bellingham.
Given the lack of fight and intensity shown at times on Wednesday, Perez’s anger is justified. Whether that results in any major repercussions for the manager or some of the players remains to be seen.
The cloud of uncertainty over Karim Benzema’s future has served as a major headache for the Real Madrid board, as they kickstart their team planning ahead of the new season.
Recent reports claim the Frenchman is strongly considering a move to Saudi Arabia, after receiving a lucrative €150 million offer from Al Ittihad. He was close to renewing his contract at Santiago Bernabeu not too long ago, but it appears the tables have turned lately.
Nevertheless, Real Madrid are yet to give up on Benzema and still harbour hopes of renewing his contract in the coming weeks, reports Alfredo Matilla.
The Spanish journalist suggests Real Madrid have not closed the file on Benzema. Coach Carlo Ancelotti has recently met the forward to clarify his future and it appears the club are set to do everything they can to keep hold of the player.
Benzema’s departure, after all, could put the club in a major dilemma, where they must either sign a top-class striker or settle for a low-cost alternative for the entirety of next season.
Harry Kane has been earmarked as the ideal replacement for Benzema. But his acquisition could potentially jeopardise Real Madrid’s bid to sign either Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe in 2024. The club have also faced difficulties negotiating with Daniel Levy, the Spurs chairman.
As far as the low-cost options are concerned, Real Madrid are interested in Roberto Firmino, who will become a free agent in the summer.
However, the Brazilian international is not the most productive striker around and his struggles in front of goal could put more pressure on players like Vinicius Junior next season.
Real Madrid, therefore, will hope to keep hold of Benzema’s services for another year. Unfortunately, though, the player has given a cold response so far and left training early, without speaking too much.
So it will be interesting to see whether or not the veteran striker opts to remain at Bernabeu for another year.
