Real Madrid News
Midfield trio set to sign an extension with Real Madrid alongside the return of former player
Carlo Ancelotti will have a stacked midfield for next season
Real Madrid’s options in the final third may appear bleak for next season, especially considering Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio’s impending exits.
With the two players very close to officially announcing their exit, the club are considering bringing back Brahim Diaz just to make up the numbers, with Mario Cortegana reporting that the player has no issues with a return.
Besides that, there will be no complications in the contract renewals of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, and both deals are expected to be official soon.
Another player who is close to renewing his deal with the club is Dani Ceballos. The midfielder is aware that he will not have many roles this season but sees a great opportunity to start and succeed regularly after next summer.
The Spaniard reportedly had one foot outside Real Madrid earlier this week and was negotiating with clubs who offered a regular starting role. However, the Merengues‘ re-entering the scene with a revised structure changed the game and secured Ceballos’ continuity.
In 29 La Liga appearances this season including 18 starts, the 26-year-old has provided four assists. He averages one key pass per game and has created just one big chance so far in the league.
With Jude Bellingham arriving in the summer, Ancelotti will have a gold mine of options in the middle of the park next season. After all, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, Toni Kroos, Dani Ceballos, Luka Modric, and the new signing are all capable of starting at the highest level.
All eyes will thus be on the Italian tactician come July. As Ancelotti guides his squad to the United States of America for preseason, identifying the optimal combination will be critical.
Real Madrid News
Ex-Real Madrid presidential candidate wanted to bring Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta as manager
The presidential election at Real Madrid this summer was something unprecedented but despite the best efforts of Enrique Riquelme, he couldn’t do much to dethrone Florentino Perez.
That being said, some of Riquelme’s ideas have now become more relevant than ever, including his pitch to sign Jurgen Klopp as the new manager, instead of Jose Mourinho.
However, Riquelme wasn’t always in favour of Klopp and in fact, had initially pitched Mikel Arteta as the next manager for Real Madrid.
Riquelme had favoured Arteta
According to The Athletic, Riquelme had identified Arteta as a potential successor to then-coach Alvaro Arbeloa as part of his election campaign.
The context came amid Arteta’s own contract situation at Arsenal, with the Spaniard having just signed a new four-year deal following the club’s Premier League triumph.
The report notes that Real Madrid were the biggest club searching for a new coach at the time, and Riquelme saw Arteta as an appealing candidate.
Ultimately, though, Riquelme’s campaign shifted towards Klopp, while Perez, who won the election, opted to bring back Mourinho.
As a result, Arteta’s name never progressed beyond an early consideration, and the Spaniard remained fully committed to Arsenal, where he continues to build on his growing legacy.
Arteta has consistently dismissed interest from elsewhere, including links to Barcelona in 2024.
Mourinho has his work cut out
While Real Madrid ultimately chose Mourinho, the early signs suggest the Portuguese has a significant task on his hands.
Los Blancos have endured a stuttering start to the season, already sitting well behind runaway leaders Barcelona in La Liga.
Performances have been inconsistent, with the team lacking intensity and cohesion, and reports have even pointed to unrest within the dressing room.
That has inevitably led to questions over whether a different appointment, such as Arteta or Klopp, might have offered a smoother transition.
Arteta, in particular, has proven his credentials by ending Arsenal’s long wait for a Premier League title, doing so against a dominant Manchester City.
For now, Mourinho must find a way to turn things around and justify Perez’s faith. With a demanding run of fixtures ahead, including El Clasico, the pressure is already building.
