Real Madrid News
Official: Real Madrid squad list for Champions League semifinal against Manchester City
Following their incredible comeback victory against Chelsea in the quarterfinals, Real Madrid now gear up for another stern test, facing another Premier League giant in Manchester City.
Carlo Ancelotti’s 20-man squad for the trip to the Etihad Stadium has been officially announced.
Jesus Vallejo returns to the list in defence, alongside Nacho, Eder Militao and David Alaba. The latter two will be expected to marshal the backline in the crunch tie.
After deputising at left-back against Osasuna, Nacho could be rotated for Ferland Mendy or Marcelo, who are once again named in the squad, with Dani Carvajal on the right.
Isco is included in the midfield, alongside Dani Ceballos, Lucas Vazquez and Eduardo Camavinga, with the usual suspects Toni Kroos, Casemiro, Luka Modric and Fede Valverde.
In attack, Gareth Bale gets the call-up after being left out against Osasuna, while Marco Asensio keeps his place after a goal at the weekend. Rodrygo is named once again as a result of his white-hot form both as a starter and especially coming off the bench.
Madrid’s two attacking talismans Karim Benzema and Vinicius Jr. round off the list. They will be crucial in breaking down a strong City side.
📋✅ ¡Nuestros convocados para el partido 🆚 @ManCityES!#UCL pic.twitter.com/co4fjxSwyM
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) April 24, 2022
FULL LIST:
Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin, Fuidias
Defenders: Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Vallejo, Nacho, Marcelo, F. Mendy
Midfielders: Kroos, Modric, Casemiro, Valverde, Vazquez, Dani Ceballos, Isco, Camavinga
Forwards: Benzema, Asensio, Bale, Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo
The current edition of the Real Madrid squad is full of young talents, who have shown remarkable potential in recent years.
Arda Guler is among the young players looking to make a mark in European football in the years to come.
The young Turk joined Real Madrid earlier this summer, rejecting many other European giants in the process.
Toni Kroos mentoring Guler at Real Madrid
Guler has not enjoyed the best of starts to his life at Santiago Bernabeu, as he is spending a brief time on the sidelines due to an injury.
However, Guler has not stopped working on his characteristics, as he looks to kickstart his Real Madrid career on a positive note.
To that end, the former Fenerbahce starlet is receiving some key support from one of Real Madrid’s midfield pillars in the form of Toni Kroos.
This is according to MARCA, which suggests that the German international is mentoring Guler in his early days at Santiago Bernabeu.
Kroos: huge ‘sponsor’ of Guler
The report highlights how Toni Kroos is a huge admirer of Arda Guler. The German had even heaped praise on the youngster from Turkey when he joined the club earlier in the summer.
Guler, therefore, is closely training with Kroos, whose years of experience, composure, and knowledge of football, could help the youngster grow at Santiago Bernabeu.
This fits in well with Carlo Ancelotti’s vision at Real Madrid, as the Italian boss wants youngsters to have room to grow, especially with guidance from some of the older guards in the team.
It is one of the key reasons Real Madrid wanted to stick to Kroos and Luka Modric, despite bringing in Arda Guler and Jude Bellingham in the summer.
Guler, therefore, has the stage set for him to start his Real Madrid career on a strong note. After impressing in training, the next step for the youngster is to make a promising debut, which is just around the corner.
