Real Madrid News
‘Open to all options’: Carvajal issues future update following Real Madrid departure
This past weekend was one filled with great emotions for Dani Carvajal as he played his final match for Real Madrid.
The 34-year-old right-back is leaving the club this summer having run down his contract, with Los Blancos deciding against renewing him for another season.
Carvajal brought an end to an illustrious career at the Santiago Bernabeu, one during the course of which he made over 450 appearances for the club and won a whopping 27 trophies.
Carvajal wants to keep playing
As for what’s next for the former Real Madrid captain, there has been little to no indication, despite some rumours hinting at a potential move to the Middle East in the summer.
Now, speaking to El Chiringuito TV, Carvajal has confirmed that he does not wish to hang up his boots and continue playing, although his next destination still remains undecided.
“Now I’ll enjoy the summer a bit, but I’ll keep playing, that’s clear and definite for me,” he said.
“We’ll see what the best options are for me and my family, and based on that, I’ll make the decision,” the Real Madrid legend added.
Where will Carvajal play?
On whether he would prefer to continue in Spain or is open to a move abroad, the right-back replied: “I don’t know, we’ll decide that calmly.”
When further probed about any offers from Saudi Arabia or Como in Italy, Carvajal stated: “I don’t know, I really don’t know. Right now, I’m open to all options and we’re working on it.”
So, it remains to be seen where the 34-year-old right-back ends up next season, having finally brought an end to his successful and memorable chapter at Real Madrid.
Real Madrid News
Kylian Mbappe fires back at critics over his Real Madrid role: ‘A player who scores goals will never be the problem’
Kylian Mbappe has started the new season for Real Madrid in great form, scoring five goals in five games so far.
The Frenchman has continued from where he left off last season, with seemingly no drop in his scoring rate, and he could have had one more had he not missed his penalty against Real Betis.
The 27-year-old superstar has pushed back against criticism of his contribution to Real Madrid, insisting that his goalscoring should not be treated as a problem.
Mbappe’s logic is that the fundamental objective of football is to outscore the opposition and that, therefore, goalscoring should never be seen as an issue.
As quoted by Mundo Deportivo, Mbappe addressed the issue in an interview with L’Equipe, where he spoke openly about criticism of his defensive work and the constant scrutiny associated with him.
Mbappe responds to criticism
The Madrid forward believes people have become so accustomed to his attacking production that attention naturally shifts towards what he does not provide.
“Is it normal that people forget my goals and focus on the defensive work? No, but that is the life of someone who has been close to excellence for 10 years. I am not new to this. Everyone knows what I can do,” Mbappe said.
“It is human to look at what someone does not do. When someone has been doing something for 10 years, we stop looking at it because we know he can do it, so we look at what he is not doing. I do not take it personally.”
Mbappe’s standards are so high that scoring regularly can almost be taken for granted. However, one has to remember how remarkable that consistency is.
‘A player who scores goals will never be a problem’
Mbappe was even firmer when discussing suggestions that his goals may not necessarily translate into collective success.
“It makes no sense. If I do not score goals, they are going to ask me why I am not scoring,” he said.
“As a footballer, I have learned that there are millions of coaches in every match you play, and not all of those coaches are happy. Everyone has an opinion, but in football the objective is to score more goals than the opponent.”
Then came his clearest message.
“A player who scores goals will never be the problem of a team, because no team has ever won titles without scoring goals.”
Madrid need balance, not less of Mbappe
Mbappe’s argument is difficult to dismiss.
Even if they say “attack wins you games, defence wins you tournaments”, you cannot win games unless you score goals, and you cannot win tournaments unless you win games.
Madrid can demand more collective work from every player, especially under Jose Mourinho, without pretending elite goalscoring is somehow secondary.
The real challenge is finding the right balance.
Madrid need Mbappe to remain devastating in front of goal while fitting into the team’s pressing and defensive structure. Those demands are not one or the other.
If anything, Mourinho’s task is to build a system that protects Mbappe’s greatest strength while still making Madrid harder to play against.
Mbappe’s goals are not, and never will be, the problem. The onus is on the manager to bring those strengths out in a system that also preserves the defensive structure.
