Real Madrid News
Mourinho planning four big rotations for Real Madrid’s first game after the international break
The ongoing international break has not been kind to Real Madrid in any capacity, and it is still just in its opening stages.
In just the first week of the hiatus, Los Blancos have already seen two players injured, including Ibrahima Konate and Kylian Mbappe, both of whom have left the national team to return to Madrid.
The sincere hope from the Spanish capital, at this point, will be for the remaining Real Madrid players to stay fit and complete the rest of the international break without any injuries.
Concurrently, there is pressure on Jose Mourinho to manage the minutes of overworked internationals carefully to prevent any setbacks that could seriously dent the team’s chances.
The plan for Villarreal
Real Madrid’s first game after the current international break is against Villarreal, and that will present the manager with his first and best chance to hand some superstars rest.
Defensa Central reports that the manager is already working hard on a plan for the clash on October 10th, and he has already identified four bench players who can arrive as starters for that clash.
Alvaro Carreras, for starters, could replace Marc Cucurella who is on international duty, as can Trent Alexander-Arnold replace Denzel Dumfries. Bernardo Silva and one of Endrick or Carlos Espi are the other two bench names who could start.
A need to find solutions
While handing out rest to the regular starters is indeed part of the bigger plan, making big changes in the lineup will also help the manager identify solutions to problems that have been highlighted in recent games.
Real Madrid’s performance at the Madrid derby was disastrous, and while the referee stole the show with his blunders, Los Blancos were simply too passive on the night.
With big games including El Clasico around the corner, Mourinho will look to use the game against Villarreal to find new solutions and a stable setup.
Further, Mbappe could remain unavailable if a bad injury is confirmed, and the manager may also use that game to find a sustainable means to replace his goals. After all, he may be unavailable for the first few games after the hiatus.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid academy strategy pays off with €210m windfall and 34 Spain internationals – report
Real Madrid’s academy has been a huge success story in recent seasons, even if not many players have found a place in the first team.
Los Blancos have used Castilla as one of the main sources of revenue to fund their first team, and the value of the academy has continued to increase.
According to AS, Madrid generated €210 million from academy-related player operations during the summer.
Meanwhile, 34 players developed at the club have represented Spain across the different men’s national-team age groups during the current international period.
Valdebebas producing players at every level
That international presence stretches from the senior Spain squad, featuring academy products Ivan Fresneda, Victor Munoz and Fran Garcia, all the way down to the Under-16s.
The results at academy level have also been impressive, with Madrid securing the league, Champions Cup, Youth League and Intercontinental Cup.
Behind those results is a structure involving around 300 players, 50 coaches and 40 scouts, with academy director Manuel Fernandez overseeing the project.
The objective is not simply to build youth teams capable of winning trophies. Madrid want players with genuine elite potential.
Some, such as Raul Asencio and Thiago Pitarch, can eventually help the first team. Others can develop into valuable assets sought by clubs across Europe’s top leagues.
€210 million demonstrates the financial value
The financial pathway has become increasingly important.
Madrid’s €210 million return was driven by several major operations, including €60 million from Como for Nico Paz and €40 million from Fulham for Gonzalo Garcia.
Victor Munoz, Mario Gila, Alvaro Rodriguez, Alex Jimenez, Palacios and Jacobo were among the other academy products whose moves exceeded €10 million.
Crucially, most of that €210 million came from footballers who never held a permanent first-team squad place.
La Fabrica does not need every player to become a starter
The strongest argument for Madrid’s model is that an academy cannot realistically produce a first-team starter every season when the senior squad is already at such a high level.
Judging La Fabrica only by how many youngsters establish themselves at the Bernabeu therefore misses much of its value.
Madrid are creating several successful outcomes instead: first-team players, internationals and valuable footballers who generate significant transfer income.
Thirty-four Spain representatives and €210 million in one summer tell you that the proof is in the pudding.
Madrid will hope their academy can continue to be as productive in the coming years, and it remains to be seen how things play out.
