Real Madrid News
Four Real Madrid stars return to training as preparations continue for Valladolid clash
With Real Madrid set to resume their La Liga campaign in a little under two weeks, Carlo Ancelotti has seen four more players rejoin training earlier today.
Los Blancos restarted training for the second half of the season from December 1, with players not at the World Cup and some youngsters from the Castilla squad being involved.
Now, slowly, Real Madrid are starting to be boosted by players returning after international commitments. David Alaba and Karim Benzema recently rejoined training and even participated in Thursday’s friendly encounter versus Leganes.
And, as reported by Mundo Deportivo, four more players – Thibaut Courtois, Eden Hazard, Antonio Rudiger and Federico Valverde, have returned to training today as the reigning Spanish champions continue preparations for the restart of the season.
The aforementioned quartet are technically the first set of Real Madrid players to return from their World Cup assignments although Benzema, who continues to remain on the France squad list, has been training for almost a week.
Courtois and Hazard crashed out of the World Cup at the group stage itself with Belgium, with the latter even announcing his international retirement after that.
Rudiger’s Germany team and Valverde’s Uruguay side also could not make it past the group stages of the World Cup. And having enjoyed a two-week vacation, they have all returned to training with the rest of the squad today.
More and more players are expected to arrive in the coming days with the Spanish and Brazilian contingent likely to return next week.
Croatia’s Luka Modric is currently playing the third-place playoff match against Morocco and will be among the last ones to return along with Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga who will be involved in the finals against Argentina tomorrow.
Real Madrid resume their campaign with an away game against Real Valladolid at Estadio Jose Zorrilla on December 30.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool monitoring 19-year-old Bundesliga wonderkid – Romano
According to Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Liverpool are all monitoring Bayer Leverkusen and Germany wonderkid Florian Wirtz.
After recovering from his ACL injury, the teenage sensation has been slowly working his way back to his best form. So far this term, Wirtz has managed to rack up a tally of two goals and six assists from 13 matches in all competitions.
The 19-year-old’s talent and potential have never been in question and hence it does not come as a surprise that elite clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Liverpool are all keeping tabs on the German international.
A versatile attacking midfielder, Wirtz is capable of playing anywhere in the final third of the pitch and backs up with top-notch end product. Be it as a false-nine or in a more withdrawn role, the youngster has excelled for Bayer Leverkusen, catching the attention of top teams.
Real Madrid, for their part, are also understood to be among Wirtz’s admirers. Given the situation surrounding Karim Benzema’s fitness and the lack of backup at the top, the youngster could be an option, as he has shown potential while operating through the middle.
But Barcelona also have a strong interest in the teenager with reports even suggesting that they have already made contact with his father to enquire about his situation.
At the same time, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is understood to be a huge admirer of his fellow German and with Roberto Firmino on his way out, Wirtz could be lined up as a possible replacement.
However, Romano adds that the expectation is that Wirtz could stay at Bayer Leverkusen for one more year and depart Germany once the UEFA Euro 2024 is out of the way.
For now, there have been talks or negotiations with any clubs, but Real Madrid, Barcelona and Liverpool are all tracking Wirtz and his progress in Germany.
