Real Madrid News
Real Madrid closely monitoring 19-year-old Portuguese centre-back – report
According to reports from Record Portugal, Real Madrid are closely monitoring the situation of 19-year-old Benfica centre-back Antonio Silva. The Merengues have sent their scouts to watch him as they see him as a possible signing for the summer.
Los Blancos may boast of some of the biggest names in central defence, but very few of them can be counted upon in the long run.
David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger are not getting any younger. The same case can be made about Nacho Fernandez who is not only approaching the twilight of his career but also contemplating an exit in the summer.
Thus, the only reliable long-term defensive asset with the club is Eder Militao.
Come June, Real Madrid will thus set out on a mission to find another player to bolster the department. Be it as a regular starter or a strong backup, Silva promises to be a strong contender.
The youngster primarily plays as a right centre-back and has been a regular starter for Benfica under Roger Schmidt.
He has made 19 starts for the Portuguese club in Liga Portugal this season, scoring two goals and overseeing ten clean sheets. He averages a staggering 1.3 tackles, two interceptions and 3.5 clearances per game in addition to four duels won per game.
Silva’s contract with Benfica runs until the summer of 2027, this favouring the Portuguese party on the negotiations front. Real Madrid may be forced to pay a fortune if they wish for his services but can be assured of a high-ceiling player for at least the next decade in the process.
Needless to say, the Merengues do have other players as options on their roster including Josko Gvardiol and the young players coming up from the youth ranks, such as Rafa Marin, who is showing great promise.
Real Madrid News
Mourinho does not want Real Madrid new signing to be affected by price tag, will continue slow integration
Real Madrid had an explosive summer transfer window with as many as six new big signings coming through to strengthen the first-team squad, while Sergio Martinez was also roped in with an eye on the future.
Up until Friday, things were going well for Jose Mourinho & co., but the 1-0 loss to Real Betis has put the team under the scanner once again.
Questions are being asked, in particular, of the club’s most explosive signing, Yan Diomande.
Mourinho not changing plans with Diomande
However, according to journalist Alvaro Esteban, Mourinho will continue with the plan of integrating Diomande slowly into the team.
The Real Madrid boss does not want the 19-year-old winger to be negatively affected by his massive price tag this summer and the pressure generated because of it.
After all, Los Blancos shelled out an enormous €125 million plus €15 million in add-ons to sign Diomande from RB Leipzig.
Should all the variables be met, he will become the most expensive signing in Real Madrid history. And, naturally, such a price tag brings with it a great deal of pressure.
As such, Mourinho wants to make sure that the Ivory Coast international is not affected in any way by the talk around his price tag and will continue to ease him into the team without rushing things.
Only a handful of minutes for Diomande
So far, Real Madrid have played four La Liga games this season and Diomande has not started even one of them.
Instead, Mourinho has opted to field Arda Guler on the right wing in three matches while Brahim Diaz started in the remaining one.
As for Diomande, he has come on as a substitute in each of the four games, but has only racked up a total of 83 minutes, without scoring or assisting a goal so far.
But, his limited minutes and slow integration are seemingly a part of Mourinho’s plans who is intent on not overexposing the teenage winger and put him under undue pressure due to the expectations that come with his price tag.
