Real Madrid News
Official: Real Madrid starting lineup against Celta Vigo
Real Madrid are set to play hosts to Celta Vigo today, hoping to cut down Barcelona’s lead on top of the table to eight points. Los Blancos are in great form, having won five of their last six games coming into this game.
Carlo Ancelotti has opted to rest several of his key players for this game, with one eye on their game against Girona in midweek.
In midfield, Aurelien Tchouameni starts alongside Dani Ceballos and Federico Valverde, with Toni Kroos and Luka Modric holding the bench.
Eduardo Camavinga also gets the nod to start, but at left-back. Daniel Carvajal has been rested for Nacho at right-back, while Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao start in central defence, guarding Thibaut Courtois in goal.
Upfront, Karim Benzema retains his spot as the striker, with the in-form Marco Asensio on the right-wing. Vinicius Jr takes his left-wing spot after missing the Cadiz clash last weekend.
Confirmed Madrid XI: Courtois; Nacho, Militao, Rudiger, Camavinga; Valverde, Tchouameni, Ceballos; Asensio, Benzema, Vinicius
Real Madrid have officially announced the first departure of the 2022/23 season as Marco Asensio leaves the club on a free transfer. The Spaniard was part of the Madrid setup for eight years, and leaves with three Champions Leagues and La Ligas to his name.
With Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo, and Eden Hazard in the team, Asensio was the only winger in the team who preferred to play on the right rather than on the left. His left-footedness was also crucial for this.
Madrid will now have to assess the market for replacements, even though they will be handed one themselves in the summer in the form of Brahim Diaz. The Spaniard finishes his loan spell at AC Milan in the summer, and will return to Madrid.
Madrid will have to make a final call on his future, but as of now, are ready to discuss a new long-term deal for and with Diaz, as per a report published by Fabrizio Romano. The extension will be valid until 2027.
Diaz, now 23, initially joined Real Madrid from Manchester City in 2019, completing a €18 million move in the search of game-time. Six appearances in six months later, though, he moved to AC Milan on loan, and has been there since.
However, getting him to stay at Madrid will be difficult, as the player evidently wants to continue at Milan for the foreseeable future. He even suggested his desire to continue in a recent interview.
“I’m happy here at Milan. I feel very good at this club, then I don’t know what is going to happen. I kissed the badge because that’s what I felt at that moment,” he said.
They want him to replace Asensio at the Santiago Bernabeu, but will not force him to stay if he wants to leave.
