Real Madrid News
Former Real Madrid midfielder rules out Bernabeu return after stunning start: ‘Not thinking about it’
Real Madrid’s academy, La Fabrica, may not produce players for the first team on a regular basis, but many talents go on to make a name for themselves elsewhere in Europe.
Nico Paz is the obvious success story, and his growth at Como has been a joy to watch, but there are other lesser-known examples like Chema Andres.
The academy graduate made an impression at Stuttgart in the Bundesliga and has secured a move to Brighton this season to play in the Premier League.
He started against Arsenal last weekend and even scored, as the Seagulls secured a surprise 3-0 victory over the defending champions.
Chema defends Real Madrid’s midfield options
Andres, who has been called up to the Spain Under-21 squad, spoke to El Chiringuito about whether Madrid currently lack a midfield profile like his.
“Not really, I don’t think so,” Chema said.
“People talk about it a lot, but Madrid have players of extraordinary quality and they are more than capable of becoming champions and winning everything.”
Madrid’s midfield structure has attracted scrutiny this season. Their failure to replace Toni Kroos and Luka Modric for a few seasons now has been a cause for concern.
Chema, however, believes Mourinho already has enough quality to find solutions.
“Maybe, but I think Madrid also have Tchouameni, Camavinga, Valverde, who can play in that position, as well as Bernardo Silva, who they just signed this summer,” he said when asked whether someone with his profile could help.
“They have great players.”
Chema would welcome a Bernabeu return in the future
Chema was then inevitably asked about a potential return to Madrid in the future, and he made no effort to hide his desire.
“For me, as I’ve always said, Madrid are the club that gave me everything, and it would be an honour for me to return,” Chema said.
“But right now I’m not thinking about that because I’ve just arrived at Brighton and I feel incredible there, but it [returning to Madrid] is always a possibility.”
Chema has only recently started his Brighton chapter and needs regular football to grow in his career and become a better version of himself.
Madrid’s search for greater midfield control has become one of the early tactical debates of Mourinho’s second spell.
If Chema continues developing in England, he could emerge as an option in the future, but for now, such talks are premature.
It remains to be seen how the Spaniard fares under Fabian Hurzeler and where his career takes him going forward.
Real Madrid’s recent win over Villarreal certainly had its tense and controversial moments, most of them involving Vinicius Jr.
But the biggest silver lining for Los Blancos was Yan Diomande scoring his first goal for the club following his €140 million move from RB Leipzig.
Diomande’s slow start had made him a subject of much criticism in the media. In the first game after the international break, however, the forward opened his account, and he used the moment to pay tribute to his sister, who died at the age of 15, reports MARCA.
Diomande’s tribute to his late sister
On the hour mark, Federico Valverde slipped him through and the Ivorian finished low across goal for the game’s only strike.
Once VAR confirmed it, he walked away from his celebrating teammates, closed his eyes and broke down in tears, his gaze fixed on the sky.
He later explained the emotion in his post-match interview. “This means more than words can say. My first goal is for you, sister. Forever in my heart.”
Roxane died in 2025 at just 15, having believed in her brother long before anyone else did. From the age of ten she had acted as his biggest champion, and ahead of the 2026 World Cup, Diomande shared their story in a letter published in The Players’ Tribune.
“Everything I do on the field is for you,” he wrote.
Staking a claim for more minutes
Diomande’s goal against Villarreal also carried a lot of weight, in terms of his standing in the team.
“I’d been waiting for that first goal for a long time,” Diomande admitted on Real Madrid TV. His display offered a glimpse of his value, with four successful dribbles, the pace to stretch Villarreal and the movement to create space for Kylian Mbappe.
With Vinicius facing a possible and lengthened domestic suspension, the 19-year-old has a timely chance to claim a more prominent role.
He is also relishing a first taste of the Champions League. “It’s every child’s dream, and I’m very grateful to be doing it with Real Madrid.”
So it will be interesting to see whether or not Diomande gets more chances to perform in the coming matches, before Real Madrid prepare for the big fight against Barcelona.
