Real Madrid News
Real Madrid considering a change in position for 29-year-old centre-back
For a centre-back to arrive at the Santiago Bernabeu and be a bonafide success in his very first year is seldom heard of. Very few defenders have arrived at Real Madrid and adapted as seamlessly as Dabid Alaba.
The Austrian has not even been at the club for a year, and it is already impossible to imagine a starting lineup without him. Despite naturally being a left-back, he has slotted into Real Madrid’s central defence and taken what was Ramos’ spot.
However, that could all change again. According to reports from Rodrigo Faez of ESPN (h/t TheMadridZone), the club consider moving Alaba back to his original position at left-back.
To replace him in central defence, Los Blancos are said to be eyeing Antonio Rudiger. The German is expected to form a partnership with Eder Militao next season.
The Chelsea defender will be a free agent in June, and has decided to try a new challenge for next season.
Though Barcelona were initially interested in his signature, they eventually pulled out of the race because of his wage demands. That will not be a problem for Real Madrid.
This season, Rudiger has started 28 league games for Chelsea. He has scored three goals, but more importantly, he has been one of the best centre-backs in the league. The team has maintained 13 clean sheets with him on the field.
With Marcelo set to depart at the end of the season, Alaba would be more than able replacement. It would also mount the pressure on Ferland Mendy through direct competition and help bring the best out of the Frenchman.
Arda Guler’s Real Madrid stint has not gotten off to the start he would have hoped to have given the expectation that preceded the transfer.
Having joined in the summer after Real Madrid outbid their competition to win him over from Fenerbahce for a 20-million-euro fee, buzz was high as the winger was expected to slot into the team quite seamlessly, albeit on a rotational basis.
Unfortunately for the 18-year-old, he has been constantly marred by injuries since completing the move.
Reports have stated that after Guler picked up his third injury since his move, Real Madrid have been concerned and want to take things slow with the player to ensure he is fit as soon as possible after an injury to his quadriceps this time.
The Turk is yet to make his competitive debut for the club, and Real Madrid even sacked their medical chief in November, in light of their injury crises since the beginning of the season.
No loan deal for Guler
However, according to Fabrizio Romano in a recent YouTube video, he states that Madrid maintain full trust and patience in the youngster.
Despite his bad luck with injuries, the latest of which he is scheduled to return from after Christmas, the Galacticos have no intention of loaning out Guler to Turkish clubs despite lots of speculation of them doing so of late.
Romano states that Madrid remain firm on not shaking things up too much with the squad, and they want to keep their roster stable, including Arda Guler.
They want to extend their full support and protection to the player as he aims to return to full fitness and finally make his bow for Madrid either by the end of this month or in 2024.
