Real Madrid News
Marco Verratti comments on Kylian Mbappe’s Real Madrid rumours
To say that Kylian Mbappe is invaluable to Paris Saint-Germain would be an understatement. The Frenchman has carried the Paris based team through both domestically and in Europe this season despite having some of football’s biggest names in his dressing room.
The thought of the youngster departing PSG is unthinkable for the Parisian fans and management alike. Unsurprisingly, the club went all out to secure a contract renewal with the World Cup winner.
Despite being offered astronomical wages, the captain’s armband and 100% of his image rights, amongst other perks, Mbappe seems set to depart the French side in the summer. Real Madrid are best placed to sign him.
In recent weeks, Los Blancos are said to have finalised the details of his transfer. Moreover, it was reported that the Madrid based side planned to announce the move after the UEFA Champions League final.
Marco Verratti was asked about the future of his teammate and his possible move to Real Madrid. The Italian international said he did not know much about Mbappe’s decision.
“Mbappe? It’s his decision and I’m waiting, like you. When I’m off and see notifications that say Kylian is in Madrid, it gives me a stomach ache (laughs). Even if afterwards he said to me: I was on vacation,” he was quoted as saying.
The forward’s contract ends in June, after which he can join any team of his choice on a free transfer. Needless to say, this comes as a big blow to PSG’s plans for next season while providing Carlo Ancelotti with the biggest boost he could ask for.
Real Madrid prospect Alexis Ciria will have to wait for his Champions League opportunity despite making a strong impression on Jose Mourinho during pre-season.
The Castilla winger has been left out of Real Madrid’s European squad, but the decision is the consequence of UEFA registration rules rather than a sporting judgment.
According to journalist Arancha Rodriguez (h/t Defensa Central), Ciria was not eligible for Madrid’s List B because he has not been with the club long enough to satisfy UEFA’s requirements.
Registering him would therefore have required Mourinho to include him on the more restrictive List A.
UEFA rules work against Ciria
List B provides clubs with additional flexibility to register young academy players, but being young enough is not sufficient on its own.
Players must also meet requirements concerning how long they have been eligible to represent the club.
Ciria does not meet those conditions because of his limited time at Valdebebas. Real Madrid would therefore have needed to sacrifice a List A position to register him.
With those places required for members of Mourinho’s senior squad, Ciria was ultimately left out.
Real Madrid’s List B instead includes youngsters such as Joan Martinez, Mario Rivas, Thiago Pitarch, Jorge Cestero and Daniel Yanez.
Many of these youngsters made a name for themselves under Mourinho during pre-season and could be used to make up the numbers in the Champions League squad.
They could also get some minutes off the bench, especially against relatively easier opposition, as Jose Mourinho looks to manage first-team minutes.
Mourinho still plans first-team opportunity
Importantly for Ciria, missing the Champions League squad does not appear to reflect a change in Mourinho’s opinion of him.
The youngster impressed during pre-season and is expected to continue spending time around the senior team.
Mourinho intends to give Ciria his official first-team debut during the season. That opportunity will now have to arrive in La Liga or the Copa del Rey.
The Portuguese tactician placed a lot of emphasis on trusting Castilla players during pre-season in the absence of first-team stars.
Ciria was one of the many names who made a name for themselves at Real Madrid during pre-season. He deserves a chance in the first team, and it remains to be seen how Jose plans his development.
