Real Madrid News
Official: Real Madrid starting lineup against Barcelona
As Real Madrid gear up to take on Barcelona in the pre-season El Clasico at the AT&T Stadium in a couple of hours, manager Carlo Ancelotti has announced the starting lineup.
As has been the trend so far this summer, Ancelotti appears to have gone in with the four-man midfield diamond for the game against the La Liga champions.
Intriguingly, though, the Italian has omitted veteran superstars Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, giving a look at what the future would look like for Real Madrid in the centre of the park.
Indeed, Aurelien Tchouameni gets the nod as the lone pivot while Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde start in the interior midfield positions.
Jude Bellingham, who has been in fine form so far in pre-season, occupies the tip of the diamond as the No. 10.
As for the defensive line, Dani Carvajal and Ferland Mendy line up as the full-backs, flanking the centre-back pair of Eder Militao and David Alaba, while Thibaut Courtois guards the goal.
Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo Goes line up as the two forwards for Real Madrid against Barcelona.
📋✅ ¡Nuestro 𝗫𝗜 inicial 🆚 @FCBarcelona_es!@UnicajaBanco| #RealMadridOnTour pic.twitter.com/fACGJfpc9k
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) July 29, 2023
Real Madrid Starting XI: Courtois, Carvajal, Militao, Alaba, Mendy, Tchouameni, Valverde, Camavinga, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Vinicius.
In a major update, AS reports that former Real Madrid midfielder and club legend Toni Kroos has taken his first step towards starting his coaching career.
The former Germany international has told the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) that he is interested in joining the coaching course reserved for professional footballers.
Real Madrid tried to bring Kroos back
It is no secret that Real Madrid considered bringing Toni Kroos back into the club’s structure after the end of the last season.
The club president, Florentino Perez, had wanted Kroos to have a daily presence at Valdebebas rather than making occasional appearances after his retirement.
Jose Angel Sanchez and Kroos spoke after Perez expressed his desire to see the German working at Valdebebas every day. However, they did not find the right moment, time or structure to give his return a clear form.
A comeback remains one of the possibilities most desired by Madrid supporters because of Kroos’ charisma and what he represents at the Santiago Bernabeu. Neither side wanted him to return simply for the sake of it, so the door remains open for the future.
The relationship between the two parties is excellent, and both know that the opportunity to work together again will eventually come.
Taking it step by step
For now, Kroos continues to run the academy he established in Boadilla, enjoying the opportunity to help develop younger players.
After two years away from the competitive side of football, however, he is beginning to look towards the dugout as a possible next step in his career.
Kroos currently holds coaching qualifications that allow him to work up to the third tier of Spanish football.
This is possible because professionals with at least seven years of proven experience and significant involvement at the elite level can gain direct access to accelerated coaching courses.
That means Kroos could coach a team in Primera Federacion, but the German wants to take things gradually.
Kroos has already informed the RFEF that he would be interested in joining the coaching course reserved for professional footballers during the 2027/28 season.
The course taking place this season is not available to elite former players, with UEFA limiting each campaign to 20 places.
With his current qualifications, Kroos could work as an assistant coach, but he cannot yet take charge as a head coach in either the top flight or the Segunda División.
But completing that programme would allow Kroos to obtain the UEFA A licence, which would enable him to coach teams at any level.
