Real Madrid News
Real Madrid close the doors on a move for former defender amidst injury crisis
Real Madrid have suffered a spate of injuries in the first few months of the 2024/25 season, leaving the squad in a difficult position, heading into the January transfer window.
The ACL injuries to Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal, coupled with David Alaba’s continued absence, means Los Blancos will enter the market for reinforcements in the defensive line.
And, the name of former captain and club legend Sergio Ramos has been put forth as a possible option considering that he is available right now as he is a free agent after leaving Sevilla in the summer.
Doors closed on Ramos’ signing
However, now, according to AS, Real Madrid have closed the doors on the signing of Sergio Ramos despite the urgent need for defensive reinforcements.
Militao’s serious knee injury has made the signing of a new central defender non-negotiable for the Merengues.
However, Real Madrid have made a decision to not hurry with any signings and rope in an emergency reinforcement right away. As such, the signing of Ramos has also been ruled out by the club hierarchy.
Instead, the club have decided that any reinforcement will be arriving in the winter transfer window itself and no ‘patch’ signings will be made right now.
Ramos enjoyed a stellar career at Real Madrid, making over 670 appearances during which he even scored more than 100 goals despite being a defender.
The 38-year-old has been dropping hints about potentially wanting to return to the club, but it appears that Real Madrid do not share the same idea.
After three successive wins to start the season, a 1-0 loss to Real Betis came as a reality check for Real Madrid, who are still some way off matching the quality and consistency of Barcelona.
In light of the defeat, the Real Madrid coaching staff is analysing the best way to get the most out of the current setup.
More expected from Valverde
According to Defensa Central, one of the key conclusions drawn from the Betis defeat is that Real Madrid need greater involvement from Federico Valverde with the ball.
The Uruguayan has been deployed as the pivot, largely due to the absence of the injured Aurelien Tchouameni, but he is yet to make the step up in quality the team requires from that role.
While his effort and commitment are never in doubt, Mourinho and his staff, led by Sami Khedira, feel Valverde spends too much time positioned behind the opposition’s midfield line.
As a result, he fails to offer passing lanes to his teammates when they are under pressure, forcing them into hurried, aimless clearances rather than playing out cleanly from the back.
That concern has already been communicated to Valverde, who is still adapting to a position he has never truly played, making the challenge all the more difficult for him.
A collective issue to fix
However, the problem is not Valverde’s alone, with the coaching staff identifying a wider issue in the team’s structure.
Khedira has reportedly noted a certain passivity from the attackers in the videos of the match, particularly Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe, when it comes to offering themselves as the ball transitions from midfield into attacking areas.
That lack of movement compounds the difficulties for the deeper midfielders.
Mourinho, for his part, remains unfazed by the departure of Rodri to Barcelona, insisting his squad has the tools to cope.
“I’m not missing Rodri. We have solutions, we have quality,” the Portuguese said, before adding that he backs his ability to improve players.
With a Champions League opener against Inter Milan on the horizon, Mourinho and his staff will be keen to iron out these issues quickly.
