Real Madrid News
Real Madrid defender’s contract negotiations at a standstill due to wage demands
Over the summer, there had been some speculations surrounding the future of Real Madrid defender Ferland Mendy.
With Los Blancos signing Antonio Rudiger, it was speculated that David Alaba would be moved to the left-back position, casting doubts on the continuity of Mendy. However, the Frenchman has stayed put at the club and has been a mainstay in the side under Carlo Ancelotti.
Another reason for the rumours to circulate around Mendy’s rumours was that the contract negotiations with Real Madrid had not gone well due to his wage demands.
His current deal with the Merengues runs until 2025 and the club wanted to hand him an extension. However, his salary demands put an end to negotiations as the Spanish capital club deemed them excessive.
Now, a fresh report from Diario AS is claiming that contract negotiations between Mendy and Real Madrid continue to remain at a standstill. Again, his wage demands are cited as the bone of contention in discussions not progressing between the two parties.
It is claimed that it was Real Madrid who put a stop to negotiations and the situation has yet to change.
It could be a reason behind the reigning champions of Spain and Europe pursuing a move for Manchester City star Joao Cancelo in 2023.
Indeed, reports earlier today indicated that Real Madrid want to sign the Portuguese international, who can play at left-back with great effect despite being a natural right-back.
Mendy’s current contract with Real Madrid still has three years left on it. But with the club’s interest in Cancelo surfacing, it remains to be seen if they hold talks over an extension for the Frenchman or decide to move on from him and land the Man City ace.
Real Madrid News
Report: Mourinho’s preferred pivot combination for Real Madrid’s big games this season
The midfield pecking order at Real Madrid still remains unclear five games into the new season, especially given that Los Blancos could not make the signings they expected.
Federico Valverde has remained a constant in the double pivot under Jose Mourinho, but his partner has changed constantly.
Eduardo Camavinga and Bernardo Silva have been the manager’s primary options to partner Valverde in midfield so far this season, and Aurelien Tchouameni’s absence through injury has been one pioneering factors for the same. The Frenchman, however, is back now from injury and it remains to be seen how the dynamic changes.
The big game pair
As confirmed in a recent update on El Larguero, Jose Mourinho has decided his pivot his big games now and it will indeed be the Valverde-Tchouameni combination.
The Uruguayan star has made his presence felt this season with strong shifts in terms of pressing and an attacking output. He was even named the man of the match against Inter Milan and is seemingly undroppable.
What Tchouameni will bring to the table, however, is defensive solidity – something that is a non-negotiable given that the forwards barely provide any defensive work-rate.
Having Valverde and Tchouameni at the base of midfield will help cut short opposition buildups and disrupt the play.
Waters will be tested soon
Tchouameni made his much-awaited return to the field in Real Madrid’s game against Inter Milan and came on for Trent Alexander-Arnold in the 79th minute.
He briefly joined Valverde in the double pivot at the time and provided a glimpse of how the duo can work in tandem in the defensive midfield. However, the waters are yet to be tested adequately.
With the Frenchman now fit, Jose Mourinho could well look to start the duo together in Real Madrid’s coming games. They have played together in the past, but doing so in a double pivot in Mourinho’s system is demanding.
Moreover, there are concerns over the team’s drop in creativity and distribution with Valverde and Tchouameni at the heart of midfield, and it remains to be seen if the manager can come up with a workable solution.
After all, the players had a bad falling out on a personal level just months ago.
