Real Madrid News
Real Madrid chief scout was in attendance to watch Brazil – Morocco match
Real Madrid have approached this transfer window with a clear goal and mission: To assemble a team strong enough to conquer Europe.
The team has already made four new additions to the squad for next season and are now trying to lure Bayern Munich superstar Michael Olise to Santiago Bernabeu.
But that is not all as Real Madrid’s head of scouting Juni Calafat was reportedly present in the Brazil vs Morocco game, reports Rodra P.
Potential targets for Calafat
The match featured several names who have been linked with Real Madrid, both directly and indirectly.
The most obvious candidate is Ayyoub Bouaddi, the 18-year-old Morocco midfielder who delivered a stunning performance on his World Cup debut and even against Brazil.
Bouaddi’s name has already surfaced in connection with Real Madrid as one of the breakout stars of the tournament.
Calafat, who has a long history of identifying elite young talent before the rest of Europe, would have had ample reason to run the rule over a midfielder of Bouaddi’s profile.
On the Brazil side, Real Madrid already have a vested interest in several players. Vinicius Jr is, of course, their own man, while compatriots such as Endrick will also return to the fold this summer.
Morocco’s squad also featured Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz, whose own future at the club remains a topic of discussion.
All eyes on Vinicius?
Beyond scouting potential new arrivals, Calafat’s presence inevitably draws attention to one existing Real Madrid star in particular: Vinicius Jr.
The Brazilian’s contract situation remains unresolved, and as previously reported, talks over a renewal have been paused until after the World Cup.
That makes this tournament something of a test for the 25-year-old, both in terms of his form and his standing within the club’s long-term plans.
Vinicius’ current deal expires in June 2027, and negotiations have been at a standstill for months, largely due to his reported salary demands of around €30 million per season as he seeks parity with Kylian Mbappe.
While both player and club have publicly expressed a desire to continue together, no agreement has been reached, and the Brazilian could enter the final year of his contract with his future still uncertain.
A strong World Cup would significantly strengthen Vinicius’ negotiating position. A poor one, by contrast, could complicate matters further, particularly with Real Madrid already investing heavily in their attack and pursuing a marquee Galactico signing
Real Madrid prospect Alexis Ciria will have to wait for his Champions League opportunity despite making a strong impression on Jose Mourinho during pre-season.
The Castilla winger has been left out of Real Madrid’s European squad, but the decision is the consequence of UEFA registration rules rather than a sporting judgment.
According to journalist Arancha Rodriguez (h/t Defensa Central), Ciria was not eligible for Madrid’s List B because he has not been with the club long enough to satisfy UEFA’s requirements.
Registering him would therefore have required Mourinho to include him on the more restrictive List A.
UEFA rules work against Ciria
List B provides clubs with additional flexibility to register young academy players, but being young enough is not sufficient on its own.
Players must also meet requirements concerning how long they have been eligible to represent the club.
Ciria does not meet those conditions because of his limited time at Valdebebas. Real Madrid would therefore have needed to sacrifice a List A position to register him.
With those places required for members of Mourinho’s senior squad, Ciria was ultimately left out.
Real Madrid’s List B instead includes youngsters such as Joan Martinez, Mario Rivas, Thiago Pitarch, Jorge Cestero and Daniel Yanez.
Many of these youngsters made a name for themselves under Mourinho during pre-season and could be used to make up the numbers in the Champions League squad.
They could also get some minutes off the bench, especially against relatively easier opposition, as Jose Mourinho looks to manage first-team minutes.
Mourinho still plans first-team opportunity
Importantly for Ciria, missing the Champions League squad does not appear to reflect a change in Mourinho’s opinion of him.
The youngster impressed during pre-season and is expected to continue spending time around the senior team.
Mourinho intends to give Ciria his official first-team debut during the season. That opportunity will now have to arrive in La Liga or the Copa del Rey.
The Portuguese tactician placed a lot of emphasis on trusting Castilla players during pre-season in the absence of first-team stars.
Ciria was one of the many names who made a name for themselves at Real Madrid during pre-season. He deserves a chance in the first team, and it remains to be seen how Jose plans his development.
