Real Madrid News
Rafa Benitez impressed by Real Madrid new signing: “When you pay €100m, he has to be good”
Celta Vigo manager Rafael Benitez has pressed that his upcoming battle against Real Madrid is going to be ‘very special’ for him as he will reunite with his former team after almost eight years since his axe in 2016.
Real Madrid are set to take on Celta Vigo away from home on Friday, and speaking ahead of the game, the former Madrid manager spoke at length on different aspects, including Carlo Ancelotti, Jude Bellingham, and his memories with Los Blancos.
“I played for Real Madrid at the age of 13,” the Celta manager was quoted by Mundo Deportivo.
“I spent many years as a footballer and then as a coach. Later, I returned to another stage. Of course, it is a very special match. Real Madrid is a great club,” he added.
Benitez was hired by Madrid in the summer of 2015 and the former Liverpool man had replaced Carlo Ancelotti, who happens to be the team’s current manager. While speaking about the Italian, he said,
“He’s a great coach, he should continue for many years because he does it very well and knows how to manage a group.”
Furthermore, when asked about Bellingham, who has made a stunning start to his new life in Madrid, the 63-year-old said:
“I have friends in Birmingham and I knew his brother, who has now gone to Sunderland, and we followed his career. He was a player who was already seen to have great potential.
“When you pay a hundred-odd million for a player, he has to be good.”
While also speaking on Los Blancos’ recent transfer strategy, Benitez said that when a club like Real Madrid pay ‘€45 million’ for 19-year-old players like Vinicius and Rodrygo, it is because they know they are reinforcing themselves “with something that is going to be good.”
“That is the advantage that teams with the ability to spend have. Even if they make a mistake in one, it doesn’t matter, another will arrive who will do it right and we will talk about it,” he explained.
Lastly, Benitez also pressed that he does regret Madrid’s decision of not allowing him to sign more players other than Casemiro, Lucas Vazquez, and Mateo Kovacic.
“Many of those who were there are very professional players and that is why they have such a long life as professionals in the elite. That they are calm tomorrow and that they do not complicate our lives too much,” he concluded.
Aurelien Tchouameni has had an exciting start to his career at Real Madrid. Since joining the club for almost €80 million last summer, the young Frenchman has now become a pivotal figure in Real Madrid’s midfield unit.
However, prior to his move to Santiago Bernabeu, the midfielder was closely linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain.
In a recent interview, Tchouameni opened up on his links to PSG but revealed his decision to join Real Madrid.
Aurelien Tchouameni on PSG links
Talking about speculations linking him to PSG, Tchouameni said (h/t Madrid Zone), “PSG? Frankly, I thought about it. It’s a very big European club, we want the French clubs to succeed.”
“But honestly, when Real Madrid calls you, it’s very complicated to say no,” Tchouameni added.
The midfielder was linked with a move to PSG during his time at AS Monaco. Les Parisiens wanted to sign the youngster as part of their plans to reinforce the midfield unit.
Tchouameni, though, ended up opting for a move to Real Madrid, which turned out to be a prudent decision from the midfielder’s end.
Tchouameni’s career at Real Madrid
Aurelien Tchouameni made a total of 50 competitive appearances during his maiden season at Real Madrid.
Although the Frenchman was not entirely a first-team regular in Carlo Ancelotti’s setup, his stature in the team is expected to grow in the coming years.
Especially as Toni Kroos and Luka Modric move on at the end of the season, there is scope for Tchouameni to become a first-team regular in the Real Madrid midfield in the years to come.
The former AS Monaco starlet has already played a crucial role in the starting eleven so far this season and it is only going to continue as the season progresses.
