Real Madrid News
Italian manager believes Lazio defender has the ability to play for Real Madrid – “He belongs there”
Gennaro Gattuso has never been someone who has shied away from the limelight.
Even as a manager, Gattuso, now at Lazio, has continued to make statement that often raises eyebrows.
In one such instance, the Lazio manager has surprisingly claimed that one of his own players deserves to play for Real Madrid.
Gattuso backs Tavares at Real Madrid
After a recent draw with AC Milan, Gattuso heaped praise on left-back Nuno Tavares, adding that he is worthy of playing for a club like Real Madrid.
“I’ve always said that Tavares is worthy of Real Madrid. It looks like someone who lost his young parents, received a great inheritance and in five years vanished,” he said (h/t Defensa Central).
“This player should be at Real Madrid. It has it all: speed, good right leg and left. He is an atypical player, but after a game he needs time to recover. He’s a good boy; you have to convince him and make him understand,” he added.
Gattuso, though, added that quality and pace aren’t enough and that he also needs to show some level of understanding and discipline.
“He knows he has talent and that, with his qualities, he could have played 10 or 12 years at Real Madrid. Just make him understand,” he said.
Is Tavares a right fit for Real Madrid?
After a failed stint at Arsenal, Tavares has found relative success at Lazio, racking up 11 assists in just over 60 competitive matches.
He has certainly impressed with his ability to make marauding runs forward and offer width on the flanks.
However, Real Madrid are well covered at left-back, with Marc Cucurella being the undisputed number one following his big money move from Chelsea.
Alvaro Carreras, too, impressed in the recent game against Rayo Vallecano, so there is no reason why Real Madrid should once again go after another left-back.
That being said, if Carreras leaves in the near future, Tavares could be an interesting backup for Cucurella, given the fact that he might not cost a fortune.
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.
