Real Madrid News
Real Madrid ask transfer target to wait for one more season to secure a move to Madrid – report
Aurelien Tchouameni is one of the world’s brightest footballing talents in the defensive midfield position and is touted for greatness in the coming decade.
His impressive performances in Ligue 1 have not gone unnoticed, and several clubs including Real Madrid are closely following the possibility of a transfer.
Los Blancos see the youngster as an able candidate for Casemiro to pass the baton to. The Brazilian midfielder has been Real Madrid’s backbone for several years now. However, with age no longer on his side, the club eye replacements for the long term.
According to reports from Jose Felix Diaz of MARCA (h/t theMadridZone), the Madrid-based club have told the Frenchman to wait until 2023 if he wished to play at the Bernabeu.
However, the player is said to be firm on his desire to leave Monaco in the coming summer and does not want to delay a move away. With Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, and Chelsea interested in his signing, he has tempting options on the table for the coming June.
AS Monaco are said to be demanding a fee of at least €70 million for their 22-year-old star this summer, a fee that Los Blancos refuse to meet.
The player’s contract in France only expires in 2024, which is part of the reason that Real Madrid want to push his transfer by a year. With only one year left on his contract next summer, Monaco will be under pressure to sell the player for a lower price.
Tchouameni has started 31 league games for his club this season, scoring three goals and providing an assist. He averages three interceptions, 2.5 tackles, a clearance, and eight duels won per game.
Stats via Transfermarkt
Real Madrid News
Rayo Vallecano manager names the one Real Madrid figure he would remove from the team
Rayo Vallecano face a daunting trip to the Santiago Bernabeu to take on a wounded Real Madrid this weekend.
Life after Inigo Perez has not been kind to the Vallecas-based club, who have already had to travel to Camp Nou and now face a trip to the home of their city giants.
Speaking ahead of the game (h/t Madrid Xtra), Rayo Vallecano manager Benat San Jose was asked which Real Madrid player he would like to remove from the team before this weekend’s game.
Surprisingly, his choice was not Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior or Thibaut Courtois.
“Mourinho”
Asked which Madrid player he would take out of the upcoming contest, Benat jokingly chose the man sitting on the opposition bench.
“Which Real Madrid player I’d remove from the match against them? Mourinho,” Benat said with a laugh.
The answer might have been delivered jokingly, but the Rayo coach immediately made clear just how highly he rates the Portuguese manager.
“He’s one of the best managers in history,” he added.
It is significant praise ahead of Saturday’s meeting at the Bernabeu.
Madrid’s squad contains enough individual quality to give any opposition coach several obvious answers, but Benat instead highlighted the influence Mourinho can have over the entire team.
That has become particularly relevant since the Portuguese coach returned to Madrid. His early work has focused on making a talented group function with greater collective discipline.
Courtois and Madrid’s attack also praised
Benat did not stop with the manager.
“They also have one of the best GKs in history and one of the best attackers in history,” he said.
Benat will definitely have seen how Thibaut Courtois played against Inter Milan in midweek and will hope that version does not turn up again this weekend.
Even when teams manage to create opportunities against Madrid, they still have to beat one of the defining goalkeepers of his generation.
At the opposite end, Madrid possess attacking quality capable of turning a match on its head.
The likes of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham can all decide matches single-handedly.
Madrid have a point to prove
Madrid are coming off a disappointing loss to Real Betis in La Liga last weekend and will come into this game with a point to prove.
They will want to ensure that the loss to the Andalusian club was a one-off and that they return to winning ways against Rayo.
Their title rivals, Barça, have been flying high in the league, scoring goals and picking opponents apart for fun.
Madrid need to ensure that they do not hand too much early incentive to Barça, and it remains to be seen how Los Blancos fare against Rayo Vallecano.
