Real Madrid News
National team manager opens up on Real Madrid youngster’s situation – ‘He’s at a very demanding club’
When Lionel Scaloni announced his squad for the Argentine national team’s games in the ongoing international break, Franco Mastantuono’s exclusion came as a bit of a surprise.
After all, the Real Madrid star has been earning Scaloni’s faith in recent times and it did not make sense why he would suddenly be dropped. All signs seemingly pointed to his lack of minutes at the club level.
While making revisions to his squad a few days later, however, Scaloni did eventually include the player and he is currently training with the World Cup winners for their game against Mauritiana later today.
Scaloni praises Mastantuono
Argentine national team manager Lionel Scaloni opened up to the media in a recent interview via MARCA where he spoke specifically about Franco Mastantuono and the player’s lack of minutes at Real Madrid.
He began by reaffirming his faith in the young talent and explaining how the situation of his limited playing time are blown out of proportion.
“We are happy with Mastantuono, he is 18 years old. Without going any further, the boy who is playing in Boca now, Tomás Aranda, has come to train with us and is the same age as Franco.
“By this I mean that Franco is a boy, Aranda is a boy. We have to give them time,” he began, explaining how many forget how young Mastantuono is.
“He is at a very demanding club (Real Madrid). The most demanding in the world. That makes everything beautiful. It’s enough for me that he understands his situation,” he added.
Explaining how highly he rates the youngster as a member of his national team squad, Scaloni said,
“With us, he will have all the trust and above all that he should understand that he has to go step by step. That his career is just beginning, that he has to be ascending, that is the most important thing.”
Finally, he was asked why he initially omitted the Real Madrid star from his squad for the international break and then subsequently included him later, to which he replied with an honest explanation saying,
“It’s simple. We were going to play a single game, but we couldn’t fill up with players. It was useless.”
“It wasn’t just him, there were others. When they told us that there was a second game, we called him,” he added.
“I appreciate their eagerness to be there. Sometimes, not that there’s anything wrong with it, they get off the plane and ask the guys, ‘What do you think about me calling you up later?’ Thank goodness they’re truly mature,” he added.
Real Madrid News
Mourinho considering starting 23-year-old Real Madrid ace against Villarreal – report
After impressing during the international break, Eduardo Camavinga has a major opportunity to establish himself in Real Madrid’s midfield rotation.
Indeed, according to Defensa Central, Jose Mourinho is considering starting the Frenchman against Villarreal, with injuries and doubts over several players limiting his options.
Real Madrid cannot afford to drop points against Villarreal if they want to remain in the title race. However, Mourinho has issues to deal with in the squad, which could lead him to turn to Camavinga for a crucial role.
Camavinga could replace Tchouameni in midfield
The 23-year-old star could line up as the defensive midfielder in the double pivot, with Bernardo Silva or Arda Guler alongside him, and will be tasked with providing balance in midfield.
Real Madrid face Villarreal with several problems in central defence. Ibrahima Konate is expected to be a late call, leading Mourinho to consider moving Aurelien Tchouameni into defence alongside Antonio Rudiger.
Meanwhile, Federico Valverde could also struggle to be ready after the ankle injury he sustained in the derby before the international break.
The Uruguayan has continued to work individually away from the group and might return to group training tomorrow. Even then, his readiness to start remains in question.
That would leave a place open in midfield, with Camavinga in line to fill in.
Camavinga impressed during the international break
Camavinga has started only one match this season, the defeat against Real Betis.
Despite his limited opportunities, Mourinho is keen to bring the Frenchman back into the fold after he impressed for France during the international break.
Zinedine Zidane called the Real Madrid star up for his first France squad, and the midfielder performed well during the break.
That has given Mourinho and Real Madrid reason to be optimistic about using him against Villarreal, with the hope that he can move closer to the level he showed after first arriving at the club.
Therefore, the Villarreal match could represent an important test for Camavinga and a chance for the Frenchman to show that he can provide the balance Real Madrid need in midfield.
