Real Madrid News
Guti names the Atletico star he would sign for Real Madrid: ‘Would be a good signing’
This weekend, Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho will face his toughest test of his second tenure at the club so far as he faces Atletico Madrid in the derby.
Los Blancos travel to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano hoping to end their winless streak at the stadium and keep up pace with arch-rivals FC Barcelona, who are seated at the top of the La Liga table.
Guti would sign Julian Alvarez for Real Madrid
Ahead of the derby this weekend, speaking on DAZN, Real Madrid legend Guti was asked which Atlético Madrid player he would sign for Real Madrid.
And, his answer was Argentine striker Julian Alvarez, although he immediately acknowledged the difficulty of making the transfer happen.
“Julian Alvarez would be a good signing for Mourinho, but Atletico already rejected €150 million from Florentino, so I don’t see it being feasible,” he said, as quoted by Defensa Central.
As the former midfielder mentioned, Real Madrid already tested Atletico Madrid’s resolve during the summer with a €150 million offer for Alvarez, which the Rojiblancos rejected.
The offer came right after Florentino Perez’s re-election as Real Madrid president, with the supremo having promised a major bid for a top star as part of his campaign.
Barcelona also showed interest in Alvarez, although their proposal was considerably lower. But Atletico were unwilling to negotiate with either club.
Why Alvarez could suit Mourinho
Guti’s suggestion also reflects Alvarez’s characteristics and the style Mourinho has introduced at Real Madrid.
The Portuguese coach has emphasised quick transitions and taking advantage of mistakes made by opponents. And the 26-year-old has experience operating in that type of football with both Atletico and Argentina.
The biggest obstacle would be fitting Alvarez into Real Madrid’s current starting XI.
The Argentine often moves towards the left side, an area already occupied by Vinicius and Mbappe, while Bellingham can also operate in similar zones.
Adding another player who naturally drifts there could create an imbalance elsewhere on the pitch.
Real Madrid have already invested heavily in Yan Diomande, who arrived from RB Leipzig, and there is currently little indication that the club intends to make another major investment in attack.
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.
