Real Madrid News
Image: Kylian Mbappe spotted with Real Madrid attacker amid transfer links
As speculations over the future of PSG superstar Kylian Mbappe continue to rise, the Frenchman was spotted with Real Madrid forward Rodrygo Goes while on vacation.
The Real Madrid players have been given a break by manager Carlo Ancelotti after their return from the pre-season tour of the USA.
And, making use of the vacation, Rodrygo is understood to have flown to Italy, where Mbappe is also on holiday.
And the two players happened to run into each other, with the Real Madrid winger sharing an image of them together on his Instagram.
Rodrygo wants Mbappe at Real Madrid
It is no secret that Mbappe is a top target for Real Madrid and they are keen to sign him either this summer or the next.
And Rodrygo has previously admitted that he would like to see the Frenchman make the move to the Santiago Bernabeu.
“He is a phenomenon, one of the best players in the world. Right now we need a player in that position, the sooner, the better. I am excited that Mbappé is coming, but he has a contract, he is in Paris, and we must respect him,” Rodrygo had said in June.
“I don’t have any information, we have to wait and see. Of course, I hope Mbappe comes because he will help us a lot. He is a real star, but we really don’t know anything,” he had further stated in an interview last month.
Will Mbappe arrive?
Real Madrid are playing the waiting game as far as their pursuit of Mbappe is concerned as they wish to force PSG to lower his transfer fee.
As such, they have not made any move to sign the 24-year-old as of yet while the player himself is continuing to insist that he wishes to see out his contract and leave for free next season.
For now, PSG have decided not to include Mbappe in the squad for their season opener next week, having already dropped him from the pre-season tour. If he does not change his stance, the World Cup winner could be banished to the stands for the entire campaign.
Bernardo Silva was one of Real Madrid’s headline signings last summer. The Portuguese midfielder arrived on a free transfer from Manchester City and appeared destined to become the creative successor to Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in the middle of the park.
Indeed, with the club having not signed a new central midfielder, many within Real Madrid saw the veteran star as a solution to the issue.
Manager Jose Mourinho made him a starter from the very beginning in pre-season, but not in his usual role on the right. Instead, he deployed his compatriot as a deep-lying playmaker in the midfield double pivot.
A change in circumstances
Silva failed to have the expected influence when operating in a deeper role in midfield in the chances he got.
Combined with the emergence of Arda Guler and Aurelien Tchouameni’s return to fitness, the Portuguese international has now lost his place in the starting line-up and dropped to the bench.
Bernardo’s situation became particularly striking against Villarreal this past Saturday at the Santiago Bernabeu, when he did not play a single minute.
Limited opportunities under Mourinho
Bernardo has played six matches for Real Madrid, starting three and coming on as a substitute in another three.
He did not feature against Villarreal or Elche, while his only appearance in the last three matches was a little over 10 minutes against Atletico Madrid. He was not used regularly by the Portugal national team during the international break either.
Across Real Madrid’s eight La Liga fixtures, Silva has accumulated just 282 minutes of playing time.
The Champions League now presents another opportunity for the former Manchester City captain, who has yet to make his European debut for Real Madrid this season.
He missed the match against Inter Milan because he was still serving a suspension carried over from his time at the Etihad Stadium last season.
It remains to be seen whether Mourinho will give him an opportunity against AS Roma in the coming week.
For now, the midfielder’s reduced playing time suggests that the Portuguese coach has lost some of his faith in a player who arrived with high expectations after leaving Manchester City.
Babangida Othman
August 5, 2023 at 1:19 pm
I want mbappe, his parents, lawyers and advisers to look at how well he has been managed at PSG and the respect he earned, their decision was fair on him as per as soccer management is concerned but if he chose to stay for one year without playing and wages, ok then, if all these people I mentioned above cannot manage the situation well, then French football Association, European football Association and world football governing body have to intervene cos it will allow others to follow. Mbappe don’t have to be selfish as such, he got to remember nobody knows tomorrow but it will be very difficult for him to be as good as Messi and Ronaldo going by their individual achievements considered the fact that he is now 24 years old.