Real Madrid News
Liverpool get massive injury boost ahead of Real Madrid clash
Real Madrid and Liverpool share a rich history in the UEFA Champions League. However, Los Blancos have dominated the Merseyside team in the recent past, with their last loss to them dating back to 2009.
The two European giants have faced off in two UCL finals in the last five years, including the grand finale of last year. On both occasions, it was the Merengues who triumphed. Further, the Spanish side defeated Liverpool 3-1 on aggregate in the Quarterfinals of the 2020-21 edition.
Real Madrid lock horns with the familiar opposition again next week, this time in the Round of 16 of the European competition. Ahead of the tie, there are significant developments in Jurgen Klopp’s camp.
According to reports from Carrusel Deportivo, Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Virgil Van Dijk is ready to face Real Madrid in the clash next week in what comes as a significant boost to the English side’s chances.
“Is Van Dijk fit? I think so, yeah. Yesterday he looked absolutely ready. I think today he will look the same and then we will make a decision,” Klopp said.
The centre-back last played for Liverpool on January 2nd against Brentford in their 3-1 loss after suffering a hamstring injury and has been out since. After over a month on the sidelines, he is expected to play in the team’s fixture against Newcastle later this week.
Klopp’s men have been absolutely abysmal this season and currently sit in ninth place in the Premier League with seven losses in 21 games. They face a difficult clash against fourth-placed Newcastle United at the weekend before hosting the defending European Champions midweek.
It is astounding that despite being the biggest club in Spain, Real Madrid do not have many Spanish players to show for it.
Los Blancos do indeed boast of a special diversity in the dressing room, but their lack of locally trained players could pose problems according to MARCA.
The Spanish outlet confirms that UEFA does not mandate the inclusion of any minimum number of locally grown players for a club. However, the Spanish federation stipulates that a club in Spain must boast of at least eight players who meet a specific set of conditions.
Of the aforementioned eight candidates, there must be at least four players who have spent three seasons or 36 months at the club between the ages of 15 and 21.
Currently, only Nacho Fernandez, Dani Carvajal, Lucas Vazquez, Federico Valverde, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and Mariano make up the required number on that front.
The problem, however, arises with the condition for the other four players in the list of eight. RFEF stipulates that the second set of four players must have completed at least 36 months in teams attached to the federation of Spain between the ages of 15 and 21.
Only Jesus Vallejo, Alvaro Odriozola, Marco Asensio and Dani Ceballos tick the aforementioned box. However, all four players have uncertain futures at the club and are well-placed to depart in the summer.
There are thus big decisions to be taken over the transfer strategy for June. Real Madrid can work ways to ship all four players out, it would require the re-integration of players like Sergio Arribas, Miguel Gutierrez or Fran Garcia to ensure the fulfilment of the criteria.
With both Vallejo and Odriozola seemingly frozen out of Ancelotti’s plans, their departures from Santiago Bernabeu appear inevitable. Thus, the management could be forced to renew one of Asensio or Ceballos come June.
