Real Madrid News
Official: Real Madrid squad list for the FIFA Club World Cup
Following the disappointing defeat to RCD Mallorca in La Liga, Real Madrid will turn their attention towards the FIFA Club World Cup, taking place in Morocco.
Los Blancos enter the competition directly at the semi-final stage courtesy of their UEFA Champions League triumph last season. And they will be facing Egyptian giants Al Ahly in the final-four stages on Wednesday.
With the team set to fly to Rabat, Morocco, manager Carlo Ancelotti has released the 22-man squad list that will be making the trip.
Unsurprisingly, Karim Benzema, Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy, Eden Hazard, and Lucas Vazquez are all absent from the list as they recover from their respective injury issues.
Meanwhile, first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has also been left behind after he picked up a groin injury during warm-up prior to the Mallorca clash on Sunday.
There have been reports claiming that the Belgian could recover in time for the final, should Real Madrid qualify, but for now, he will not be travelling with the rest of the team.
Meanwhile, Ancelotti has also called up a few youngsters from the Castilla team as Mario Martin, Sergio Arribas, and Marvel make the cut.
📋✅ Our 22 players travelling to Rabat!#ClubWC pic.twitter.com/Mg7fbCfhZl
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) February 6, 2023
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid midfielder trained away from the group last week, but has no injury – report
With the international break underway, several Real Madrid players have been called up for national team assignments. The stars who have not travelled for international duty have continued to work at the club’s Valdebebas training facility to prepare for the restart.
Toni Kroos is one such player who has remained in Madrid, having retired from international football back in 2021.
However, there had been concerns growing around the 33-year-old’s physical condition as he regularly did indoor work last week and was not spotted in group training with his teammates.
Now, Sergio Quirante has come up with an update on Kroos’ situation, stating that even though the midfielder largely did individual work inside the facilities over the last week, he is fine and has no injuries.
Taking advantage of the international break, the former Bayern Munich superstar is understood to have gone through an individual program to prepare for the final, decisive stretch of the 2022/23 season.
Kroos not being injured comes as a big positive for Real Madrid, ahead of important games against Real Valladolid and Barcelona within the first five days of April.
The rest of the Real Madrid midfield contingent – Luka Modric, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni, Federico Valverde, and Dani Ceballos – are all away on international duties and could return with some fatigue from the travel.
So, it is important that Kroos is fully fit and ready to go as Real Madrid look to cut down the gap to the top of the table in La Liga and also make it to the finals of the Copa del Rey by overturning a first-leg deficit against Barcelona in the semi-finals.
Kroos has played 37 matches this season, chipping in with two goals and five assists in the process. With his contract expiring at the end of the season, it is still unclear whether he will renew or hang up his boots.
