Real Madrid News
Manchester United set sights on €120 million-rated Real Madrid midfield mainstay
Following the chaos in the dressing room last week, Real Madrid are not ruling out the sale of key midfielder and second captain Federico Valverde.
The 27-year-old Uruguayan international was the instigator of the issue that snowballed into a fight with fellow midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni.
While Real Madrid have hit both players with a hefty €500,000 fine, they are believed to be far from pleased with Valverde’s behaviour in particular, potentially opening the doors for a summer exit.
Manchester United eye Valverde
Now, according to the Daily Mirror in England (h/t AS), Manchester United are hoping to capitalise on the unrest in the Real Madrid locker room and make a move for Valverde in the summer.
The Red Devils are already looking at Tchouameni as a potential replacement for Real Madrid legend Casemiro, who is leaving Old Trafford at the end of the season.
Now, it is being suggested that the Premier League giants have also added Valverde to their shortlist for the summer.
Valverde is under contract at Real Madrid until 2029 and remains a key player for the team despite the recent controversies.
So far this term, he has made 48 appearances in all competitions, recording nine goals and 13 assists in the process.
Only earlier today, the 27-year-old was named in the La Liga Team of the Season for 2025/26, along with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Tchouameni, and Thibaut Courtois.
So, any move for Valverde in the summer is unlikely to come cheap. However, Manchester United are keeping a close eye on the situation, hoping to pounce if Real Madrid open the doors to his sale in the summer.
*Player valuation in title obtained from transfermarkt.com on date of publication.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. admits finishing problem after another frustrating night vs Elche: ‘Can’t miss that much’
Vinicius Jr.’s difficult start in front of goal continued against Elche, and the Real Madrid forward did not need anyone to tell him he had missed another chance to make the difference.
The Brazilian finished the night without a goal despite having chances to get on the scoresheet, while his teammates could only watch from the bench as opportunities went begging.
Jose Mourinho had already identified the problem before kick-off, bluntly pointing to the issue facing his forward, stating, “He’s missing the goal.”
Vini offered an equally frank assessment afterwards.
Rather than hide from another frustrating evening, he accepted responsibility on social media: “The goals will come back; I can’t miss that much…”
Two chances, no finish for Vinicius
Vinicius had two particularly clear openings against Elche, but neither produced the finish Real Madrid needed from their star forward.
The first arrived when he found himself one-on-one with the opposition goalkeeper.
Instead of finding the net, Vinicius caught the ball with the tip of his foot and sent his effort wide. Arda Guler was available during the move and called for the ball, but Vini backed himself to finish the chance.
He had another opportunity after the interval, this time following an excellent pass from Guler during a quick Real Madrid transition. Again, though, Vinicius could not find the target.
His evening ended in the 68th minute, with Mourinho deciding the Brazilian was tired and turning his attention towards Sunday’s Atletico Madrid derby.
Mourinho has a bigger decision to make
The numbers show why Vinicius’ finishing has become a talking point. He managed five shots against Elche, but only one was on target and none found the net.
After seven appearances this season, the Brazilian has scored just once, which is a striking return for a player Real Madrid rely upon to provide a major share of their attacking threat.
Ultimately, though, Real Madrid found another route to victory, with Arda Guler, Kylian Mbappe and Carlos Espi providing the goals in the 3-2 comeback.
