Real Madrid News
Just in: Real Madrid duo out of Atletico Madrid, Barcelona encounters due to injury
In a major blow, Real Madrid duo David Alaba and Rodrygo Goes have been ruled out of the upcoming matches against Atletico Madrid and Barcelona due to injuries.
Alaba and Rodrygo both picked up injuries earlier this week during Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first-leg tie against Liverpool at Anfield.
The pair did not show up to training today with the rest of the team, and now Sergio Valentin has come up with an update on their conditions.
As per the report, Alaba, who had sustained a hamstring injury against Liverpool and was taken off in the first half, will be out for close to a month.
Confirming the injury, Real Madrid issued an official statement, that read: “After the tests carried out today on our player David Alaba by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with a muscle injury in the distal third of the right femoral biceps. Evolution pending.”
If he is ruled out for 30 days as reported by Valentin, it would mean that the 30-year-old Austrian will miss the upcoming derby against Atletico Madrid as well as the Copa del Rey semi-final versus Barcelona on March 2.
On top of that, Alaba will also miss La Liga clashes against Real Betis and Espanyol. His involvement in the second leg against Liverpool, as well as the league Clasico on March 19, is ruled out and he would likely return after the international break.
As for Rodrygo, the Brazilian was reported to have sustained an overload in his gluteus muscle. The club confirmed the nature of his injury in a statement that read:
“After the tests carried out today on our player Rodrygo by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with an injury to the left piriformis muscle. Evolution pending.”
And Sergio Valentin is reporting that the 22-year-old forward would likely be sidelined for a period of ten days, which effectively rules him out of the derby as well as the cup semi-final.
Apart from the duo, Real Madrid are also yet to recover Ferland Mendy, who is likely to be back in training after a couple of weeks at least. However, Carlo Ancelotti did welcome back Aurelien Tchouameni into training today after he missed the past couple of games due to flu.
Real Madrid News
51-year-old manager the ‘clear favourite’ to succeed Ancelotti at Real Madrid – report
With there being uncertainty surrounding the future of Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid, it seems like Los Blancos have identified the ideal candidate to succeed the Italian if he leaves.
Indeed, according to TyC Sports in Argentina, former PSG and Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino is the clear favourite to replace Ancelotti once he moves on from Real Madrid.
The 51-year-old tactician is currently unattached after having been let go of by PSG last summer. And, he could now make a sensational return to management with Real Madrid.
Ancelotti has a contract with the Merengues until the summer of 2024. But, his future is not entirely secure at this point as the current champions of Spain and Europe are losing the La Liga title race to Barcelona while they are also hanging by a thread in Copa del Rey.
Unless the 63-year-old leads Real Madrid to a major trophy this term, an exit could be on the cards. And, the Brazilian national team are lying in wait to swoop him away if such a scenario materialises.
Several names such as Raul Gonzalez, Zinedine Zidane, Julian Nagelsmann, and Xabi Alonso have been linked with the Real Madrid job if Ancelotti leaves.
But, now it is being claimed that Pochettino has emerged as the frontrunner to take over from the Italian tactician. The 51-year-old is understood to be president Florentino Perez’s most favourite candidate and is seen as a perfect fit at Real Madrid.
Pochettino had the chance of taking over at Real Madrid in the past but could not secure a release from Tottenham. Now, though, he is unattached and has reportedly even rejected a chance to rejoin Spurs as he is ready to wait until the summer for Real Madrid.
The report also suggests that Pochettino has previously rejected the likes of Ajax, Chelsea, Belgium national team and Brazil as well as he continues to wait for an approach from Los Blancos at the end of the season.
