Real Madrid News
Just in: Real Madrid reach verbal agreement with superstar over new contract until 2024
According to L’Equipe, Real Madrid have reached a verbal agreement with Karim Benzema over a contract renewal that will ensure his stay at Santiago Bernabeu till 2024.
The forward’s current deal expires at the end of the season and even after winning the Ballon d’Or, there were initially some doubts over the continuity of Benzema at Real Madrid due to his constant injury problems throughout the course of the season.
Benzema, 35, has indeed had a difficult time at the Bernabeu this season. He has struggled to keep up with his numbers from last season while injuries have seen him miss a number of matches. There are also reports of Carlo Ancelotti noticing a drop in his training level.
But that has not deterred Real Madrid from renewing the contract of the Frenchman, who remains an integral figure in the club’s attacking unit.
The report from L’Equipe suggests Benzema had met Florentino Perez a few days ago. They reached an agreement over a renewal until 2024. Although the contract has not been made official yet, it will be finalised in the coming weeks.
Benzema’s renewal could be a major milestone for Real Madrid, as they brace themselves for a tricky phase of the campaign.
After the contract is finalised, one would expect Los Blancos to focus on the renewal of other stars such as Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. The former feels he is ready to continue for yet another season. The club also have their task cut out when it comes to the contract extension of Marco Asensio and Dani Ceballos.
Asensio, for one, has been linked with a move to arch-rivals Barcelona, whereas there has been no advancement in the club’s bid to renew Ceballos. A lot will be unveiled in the coming weeks, as Real Madrid look to sort out the contractual situations of their star players one at a time.
Real Madrid News
Rayo Vallecano manager names the one Real Madrid figure he would remove from the team
Rayo Vallecano face a daunting trip to the Santiago Bernabeu to take on a wounded Real Madrid this weekend.
Life after Inigo Perez has not been kind to the Vallecas-based club, who have already had to travel to Camp Nou and now face a trip to the home of their city giants.
Speaking ahead of the game (h/t Madrid Xtra), Rayo Vallecano manager Benat San Jose was asked which Real Madrid player he would like to remove from the team before this weekend’s game.
Surprisingly, his choice was not Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior or Thibaut Courtois.
“Mourinho”
Asked which Madrid player he would take out of the upcoming contest, Benat jokingly chose the man sitting on the opposition bench.
“Which Real Madrid player I’d remove from the match against them? Mourinho,” Benat said with a laugh.
The answer might have been delivered jokingly, but the Rayo coach immediately made clear just how highly he rates the Portuguese manager.
“He’s one of the best managers in history,” he added.
It is significant praise ahead of Saturday’s meeting at the Bernabeu.
Madrid’s squad contains enough individual quality to give any opposition coach several obvious answers, but Benat instead highlighted the influence Mourinho can have over the entire team.
That has become particularly relevant since the Portuguese coach returned to Madrid. His early work has focused on making a talented group function with greater collective discipline.
Courtois and Madrid’s attack also praised
Benat did not stop with the manager.
“They also have one of the best GKs in history and one of the best attackers in history,” he said.
Benat will definitely have seen how Thibaut Courtois played against Inter Milan in midweek and will hope that version does not turn up again this weekend.
Even when teams manage to create opportunities against Madrid, they still have to beat one of the defining goalkeepers of his generation.
At the opposite end, Madrid possess attacking quality capable of turning a match on its head.
The likes of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham can all decide matches single-handedly.
Madrid have a point to prove
Madrid are coming off a disappointing loss to Real Betis in La Liga last weekend and will come into this game with a point to prove.
They will want to ensure that the loss to the Andalusian club was a one-off and that they return to winning ways against Rayo.
Their title rivals, Barça, have been flying high in the league, scoring goals and picking opponents apart for fun.
Madrid need to ensure that they do not hand too much early incentive to Barça, and it remains to be seen how Los Blancos fare against Rayo Vallecano.
