Real Madrid News
Nasser Al-Khelaifi welcomes Real Madrid back to European Club Association: ‘We are delighted…’
Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has welcomed Real Madrid’s expected return to the European Football Clubs (EFC), formerly known as the European Club Association, describing the development as a positive step for European football.
Speaking at the opening of the EFC’s 33rd annual general meeting, Al-Khelaifi, who is also the EFC president, confirmed that Real Madrid are on course to rejoin the organisation after its long absence.
“We are delighted that Real Madrid is in the process of rejoining the EFC,” said Al-Khelaifi, as per Mundo Deportivo.
The development marks an important change in relations between Real Madrid and the organisation, particularly given the club’s central role in the European Super League project and the disputes that followed.
Al-Khelaifi praises Florentino Perez and welcomes Laporta
Al-Khelaifi also used his speech to acknowledge Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, whom he described as his “dear friend”.
The EFC president thanked Perez for his contribution to football and for supporting the idea that European football’s future of the sport in Europe “needs to be built on unity and the collective interest.”
The Qatari official also thanked Barcelona president Joan Laporta for having “placed his trust” in the organisation and welcomed the Barcelona president into its “family”.
Notably, the EFC now brings together more than 900 clubs across European football.
Real Madrid’s EFC return follows Super League dispute
Real Madrid’s expected return comes after UEFA, the EFC and the Spanish club reached an agreement in February aimed at resolving the legal disputes connected to the Super League.
The agreement came days after Barcelona announced their formal withdrawal from the project, leaving Real Madrid as the only club still supporting the competition.
A22 Sports Management, the company behind the Super League project, has separately filed a damages lawsuit against UEFA while also seeking recognition of the competition.
The dispute has its roots in April 2021, when several of Europe’s biggest clubs announced plans to create the Super League.
UEFA rejected the project immediately and has maintained that position since then, creating a major split within European football.
The legal battle has continued through the courts, with the Madrid Provincial Court dismissing an appeal against a previous ruling last October.
Real Madrid’s return to the EFC therefore represents a strong shift in the relationship between the club and the wider European football establishment.
Real Madrid News
Mourinho sticks to his Champions League tradition ahead of Real Madrid’s clash vs AS Roma
Real Madrid are set to take on AS Roma in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday in Italy.
Having returned from the international break with a 1-0 win over Villarreal, Los Blancos will be eager to build on it and record their second win in Europe, after beating Inter Milan last month.
Mourinho continues his tradition
And, as reported by Diario AS, the Real Madrid squad trained at Valdebebas before travelling for their Champions League fixture, just as they did during Jose Mourinho’s first spell in charge between 2010 and 2013.
The approach breaks with the usual Champions League routine of training at the opposition’s stadium on the eve of a match.
Real Madrid had largely remained an exception to this trend. Mourinho was the first to change the club’s established procedure, but after his departure in 2013, the routine had returned.
Now, the club are going back to the approach he introduced. Following the training session, the squad will fly to Rome in the afternoon.
Xabi Alonso and Arbeloa followed the same approach
Xabi Alonso revived the practice last season in order to avoid giving direct access to his team’s preparations to the opposition. After Alonso’s dismissal, Alvaro Arbeloa continued the practice.
The team travel to the opposition’s stadium for the press conference, but otherwise complete their preparations at Valdebebas before flying out a few hours later.
Exceptions are made when the journey is too long to make the routine practical, as was the case with Almaty. Rome, however, is a relatively short trip, allowing Mourinho to maintain his preferred schedule.
Real Madrid’s flight is expected to depart at around 15:00, with the pre-match press conference scheduled for 18:00 at the Stadio Olimpico.
Four expected absentees
There were no new injury concerns, with Real Madrid set to travel without four players, all of whom were already expected to miss the match.
Eder Militao has returned to group training but still needs time to regain match fitness. Meanwhile, Raul Asencio remains unavailable after undergoing surgery for a fracture in his right tibia.
Ferland Mendy is also back training with his teammates but is expected to need slightly longer than Militao before returning to action. Rodrygo remains a long-term absentee.
