Real Madrid News
Real Madrid academy graduate has a guaranteed place in first team for 2024/25
The Real Madrid Castilla side is set for a change of guard. After recording one of the team’s most successful runs in recent years, Raul Gonzalez and the administration are set to see multiple stars leave and look for new pastures.
Sergio Arribas, Carlos Dotor, Marvin Park, Antonio Blanco, and Alvaro Martin are some of the young stars actively seeking moves out of the club. However, the club have a different stance on one Castilla star – Rafa Marin.
Los Blancos outright refuse to sell the young star this summer, even with the inclusion of a buyback clause.
Their firm stance on sending him only on loan made many believe that they had him in their plans for the future.
Marin will have a place in the first team in 2024/25
AS confirms the same in a recent report. According to the Spanish publication, Marin has an assured place in the first-team squad for 2024/25.
The management have high hopes for the defender and see him as a valuable asset for the coming decade.
In Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger, and David Alaba, the Merengues have one of the world’s most experienced and resilient defensive lineups, but barring the Brazilian, the other stars are in their thirties.
The first-choice replacement and club captain, Nacho Fernandez, could well be in his final year at the club.
Marin will presumably replace the veteran in the 2024/25 season and look to take over from Alaba or Rudiger in the long term.
The 21-year-old centre-back has signed a contract renewal with Real Madrid that will see him contracted to the club until 2026.
Deportivo Alaves are currently in advanced talks with Real Madrid over a one-year loan deal for Marin.
A year with the newly-promoted La Liga side would do wonders for Marin’s development if he finds enough minutes under his belt. Needless to say, it is a win-win for all parties involved.
Real Madrid News
English legend backs Real Madrid star to become one of the all-time greats: ‘He’s got everything’
Jude Bellingham has spent the past fortnight as the most talked-about footballer in England, and the superlatives show no sign of slowing down.
A masterclass in the Nations League, a clutch of records and a second straight Player of the Year award has not gone unnoticed in English footballing media.
Now one of the English game’s most respected voices has added his name to the growing list of believers.
Lineker backs Bellingham
Asked whether Bellingham can go on to become one of the greatest players of all time, England legend Gary Lineker left no room for doubt.
“Yes, I’ve been saying it for a long time now. If he avoids serious injury or falls of the rails which he won’t I’m sure.
“He’s so good at football, he’s got everything. He’s a superstar and carries himself like a superstar,” he said (h/t Track Radio).
The verdict chimes comes in the midst of a wider chorus of acclaim in recent days. Roy Keane tipped him to become one of the greatest of all time after the Croatia rout, with Ian Wright and Micah Richards among others queuing up to praise him.
Backed by the numbers
The acclaim for Bellingham comes on the back of an extraordinary international break for Bellingham.
Against Croatia, Bellingham scored one and created three in the 7-0 win, becoming the first England player to record four goal involvements in a single game since David Platt in 1993.
He finished the window with one goal and four assists and was named UEFA’s Player of the Round.
That international excellence has carried over to the Bernabeu, where he has settled into a free number 10 role under Jose Mourinho and sits as the club’s joint-leading creator.
Bellingham was part of Real Madrid’s recent 1-0 win over Villarreal as well, and was unlucky not to register an assist when Vinicius Jr.’s goal was disallowed.
The Englishman will be looking to make an impact once again when Real Madrid take on AS Roma this Wednesday.
