Real Madrid News
Raul talks Bellingham, Nico Paz, Real Madrid future: “In football, you never know”
A lot has been made about Carlo Ancelotti’s future at Real Madrid in recent months. The Italian tactician has enjoyed a decent start to the new season, but links with the Brazilian national team refuse to die.
If Ancelotti leaves Madrid next summer, Xabi Alonso is said to be the favourite to take over.
Another name on the option, list, albeit lower down the pecking order, is Raul Gonzalez.
The Real Madrid Castilla manager recently spoke in a promotional event about a plethora of topics including his career and the team’s start to the season.
The legendary striker spoke about his future and whether he would continue to mentor the club’s youngsters in the years to come.
“I am a club person. I am delighted with what I do and next year in football you never know,” he said, as revealed by Mundo Deportivo.
As the manager of Castilla, he also gave his two cents on why there was a relative decrease in the number of academy players making it to the first team and the challenges of being a youth player.
“Getting to the first team is difficult. What they have to do is throw the door. There are players like Nico Paz or Álvaro who can get their chance. We have to try to prepare them in the best way.”
Speaking about Real Madrid sensation Jude Bellingham and his stunning start to life at the club, Raul called out the English international’s talent and knack for adapting.
“In the training sessions I’ve been able to see him, he has surprised me. He is a player with a special talent. I loved him from the start. I train players of his age and he is way ahead of me. He has adapted phenomenally to Real Madrid.
“Madrid does not depend on him. The team has a goal,” he added when asked if Los Blancos were dependent on him for goals.
Finally, Raul commented on this season’s La Liga race which is panning out to be an interesting battle. With Girona, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid very much alive, it could well go anyway.
“La Liga is and will be very exciting. I have to congratulate Girona and Míchel for their good performance. Of course, I hope that Real Madrid will be the champions,” he said.
Real Madrid’s main goal heading into the summer transfer window was to wrap up the signing of Jude Bellingham amid massive interest from Premier League giants such as Liverpool, Manchester City, and Chelsea.
Pep Guardiola’s City, especially, were ready to match and increase any salary Madrid offered, and were going strongly into the bidding war.
Eventually, Bellingham decided to join Madrid after they reached an agreement with Borussia Dortmund for €3 million.
However, following this, los blancos had to improvise a fair bit as Karim Benzema decided to leave the club to join Al-Ittihad on a free transfer. They were expecting him to continue for another season, at least, and it stumped their plans in the market.
In the next few weeks, Madrid chased forwards, and ended up signing Joselu, Brahim Diaz, and a certain Arda Guler, who was close to Barcelona before eventually ending up at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Unfortunately for Madrid, he is yet to play a single minute for the club after picking up a serious injury in pre-season. Despite being on the bench for a couple of games, Guler suffered a relapse in training, and was sidelined again.
Now, reports from Yagiz Sabuncuoglu say that the Turkish international is close to returning to team training.
Guler has slowly, but surely, been recovering from his injury, and could take to the pitch for his first minutes with the club in the next few weeks as Madrid look for solutions after a month full of injuries.
With Vinicius Jr, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eder Militao, and Thibaut Courtois all out until early 2024, Madrid have relied on Castilla for reinforcements, but could do with Guler’s services in their forward line.
That said, Carlo Ancelotti and co. are expected to be extremely cautious when it comes to the Turkish international. The slightest spell of poor man-management here could make or break the youngster’s career.
