Real Madrid News
Official: Real Madrid squad list against Almeria
The champions are back in business. Real Madrid get ready to defend their La Liga crown as they travel to Estadio del Mediterraneo to lock horns against the newly-promoted UD Almeria tomorrow.
Ahead of the game, Carlo Ancelotti has pretty much the entire squad present at his disposal. All three goalkeepers – Thibaut Courtois, Andriy Lunin, and Luis Lopez make the cut.
The defence is nearly completely fit as well, with only Daniel Carvajal missing from the squad. Alvaro Odriziola is also included, despite being linked with a move away. New signing Antonio Rudiger will also travel, but his starting spot is still in the air.
📋✅ Our squad for #AlmeríaRealMadrid! pic.twitter.com/vpC3lv7VWM
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) August 13, 2022
There are five central midfielders in the squad, including Toni Kroos, Eduardo Camavinga, Luka Modric, Dani Ceballos, and Federico Valverde, alongside Aurelien Tchouameni and Casemiro available as defensive midfielders.
Mariano Diaz has been included, as well, even though his future at Santiago Bernabeu is bleak as of now. Rodrygo and Jesus Reinier are the only first-team player missing from the travelling team.
Real Madrid News
U-turn? Benzema hints at Real Madrid stay during ceremony: “Reality is not the internet”
There has been a lot of talk around Karim Benzema’s situation over the course of the last week or so, with reports claiming that the Frenchman was on his way out of the Santiago Bernabeu.
With his contract expiring at the end of the season, it was reported that Benzema was joining Al Ittihad as part of an incredible deal worth nearly €200 million. The striker was also offered 100% of his image rights and advertising deals by the Saudi government.
Over the last day or so, it has been reported that the move is all but official at the moment, as Benzema has accepted the offer, and will soon inform Real Madrid about it.
Benzema was awarded the MARCA Leyenda awards for contribution to sports today, and speaking during it, he dropped a rather cryptic message about his future – one that says quite the opposite to what has been in the news recently.
“Speak to the fans? Speak about what? Why should I speak of the future if I’m in Madrid?”, Benzema said.
“It’s the internet speaking, and reality is not the internet,” he added.
This certainly falls away from the departure line for Benzema, who was reportedly already contemplating his life away from Madrid.
At first, though, he was hesitant about speaking about his future, saying, “Staying or leaving Real Madrid? At the moment, I’m here…we have a game on Saturday.”
He repeatedly talked about the fans, calling them the best in world football. He also said, “I know how much Real Madrid fans love me. I feel that when I’m on the pitch, I give my best for them, always.”
“I always say that we play with 11 on the pitch but also with a crucial factor, Real Madrid fans,” Benzema concluded.
