Real Madrid News
Real Madrid defender in love with the club and city, rejected lucrative offer from Saudi
David Alaba’s transition to Real Madrid was as seamless as it gets. Arriving at a difficult time for the club, he did brilliantly with Eder Militao to replace Sergio Ramos and Rafael Varane and has been a regular starter ever since.
The Austrian international is capable of playing both left-back and centre-back. Although he began his career out wide, he is now focused on the central role.
Earlier this week, reports of Alaba’s potential departure from Real Madrid appeared out of the blue.
The speculations, however, suggested that there were teams in Saudi Arabia interested in his signing and did not mention any desire on the player’s part to switch teams.
Sergio Quirante confirms the same in his recent update. According to the Spanish journalist, the defender did indeed receive a very succulent offer from Saudi Arabia a few weeks ago.
However, his entourage suggest that the player never contemplated a departure. He is in love with the team and the city and would not give it up for the monetary upgrade.
A mind-boggling offer
As relayed earlier this week, Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad were the party eyeing Alaba’s services in a late swoop this summer.
The middle-east based side were said to be willing to put up a transfer fee of €40 million for his services. Further, they offered him a staggering salary of €25 million.
Considering Real Madrid’s situation however, the Merengues would not sell him for all the money in the world just as the player would not switch loyalties at any price.
The leader at the back
With Eder Militao out injured for the greater part of the ongoing season, David Alaba automatically becomes Carlo Ancelotti’s first-choice centre-back.
He has started recent games paired alongside Antonio Rudiger, and the duo has struck up a strong combination.
In his four league appearances for Los Blancos this season, the 31-year-old has overseen two clean sheets and provided one assist. Defensively, he averages 1.2 interceptions, 0.8 tackles, three clearances, and one duel won per game.
Real Madrid News
Mourinho reacts to Vinicius suspension: “Why announce it two hours before an important match?”
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has questioned the RFEF Disciplinary Committee’s decision to announce Vinicius Jr.’s four-match suspension just hours before their UEFA Champions League meeting with AS Roma on Wednesday.
The Brazilian has been hit with a four-match ban for his red card against Villarreal, meaning he will miss the matches against Sevilla, Barcelona, Racing Santander, and Valencia.
And, speaking to Movistar+ (h/t MARCA) before the match, the Real Madrid manager was asked whether the punishment could affect the Brazilian psychologically.
Mourinho instead turned his attention to the football authorities and the timing of their announcement.
“I think that is a question for the Committee. Why have they announced the suspension at this particular moment? If you are asking me this question, it is presumably because you think it could affect him,” the Portuguese coach replied.
“You should ask the Committee why they did not announce it this morning, or tomorrow morning. Why do they do it two hours before a match that is important for Real Madrid, which is a Spanish club?” he added, questioning the timing of the decision.
Mourinho explains his tactical approach against Roma
The Real Madrid manager also outlined his plan for facing a Roma side known for their aggressive pressing.
“My intention is to stop them from pressing us so high up the pitch, given the players we have available and as a precaution,” he said.
Continuing, the Portuguese manager added: “They press man-to-man higher up the pitch better than anyone else, and we will see whether we can take advantage of that. If not, they will have to drop their press five or ten metres.”
Why Rudiger over Huijsen
Mourinho also justified his decision to start Antonio Rudiger at centre-back alongside Ibrahima Konate rather than Dean Huijsen.
“They played very well together in the last match, Rudiger and Konate, showing great leadership and the ability to withstand a difficult situation when we had ten men for 30 minutes,” he said.
“I am not saying Dean is not capable of playing a match like this, but this is a wonderful atmosphere for Roma and a difficult one for us. I think a player with Antonio’s experience can be important,” Mourinho added.
Finally, Mourinho was asked about his emotions ahead of returning to face Roma, the club he managed between 2021 and 2024.
The Portuguese coach offered a brief response, saying that he had his feelings about the occasion “blocked”.
