Real Madrid News
Real Madrid defensive ace targeting a starting spot after lengthy injury-enforced absence
Real Madrid defender Eder Militao has endured a difficult past couple of years having missed a large chunk of the action due to two separate ACL injuries.
The Brazilian international sat out of a large part of the 2023/24 season due to the cruciate ligament rupture and suffered the same injury on his other knee a few months into the 2024/25 campaign.
Now, though, having worked incredibly hard on his recovery, Militao is close to making a return and is expected to be in the squad for the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup clash against Juventus.
Militao in top shape, wants a starting berth
As such, MARCA (h/t Madrid Xtra) reports that Militao has returned to training in top shape and is eager to get minutes in the FIFA Club World Cup.
The Brazilian centre-back has his eyes set on reclaiming his starting spot in the lineup.
During his absence, Raul Asencio and Antonio Rudiger established themselves as the preferred centre-back pairing at Real Madrid.
Dean Huijsen has now become a guaranteed starter since his arrival in the summer, leaving Rudiger and Asencio jousting for the other spot.
Now, Militao, too, is ready to battle for a starting berth, although he will first need to get some minutes under his belt and build his rhythm back after months out of action.
If manager Xabi Alonso opts to go in with a three-man defensive line on a regular basis, it will create an opening for Militao, especially considering Asencio has not had the best of starts to the Club World Cup.
For now, though, the Brazilian must focus on getting into his groove again after spending most of the season out on the treatment tables.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid weighing up January move for €70 million-rated Arsenal midfielder – report
Real Madrid’s midfield is the one department where Jose Mourinho sees clear scope for improvement, especially given that the club did not sanction his wish for a top midfield signing in the summer.
While Bernardo Silva has chipped in as a handy option to feature in the deep midfield, the club still lacks a controlling and creative option who can glue the team together.
In that sense, there is a clear lacuna that Real Madrid need to address and Defensa Central brings to light that the club have opened up to a potential target.
Zubimendi emerges as a target
Indeed, the player in question is Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi who the club have seen as a target for a long time, and Real Madrid could even go on to sign him in January.
The Spanish international has not started off the new season well under Mikel Arteta and has primarily featured as a substitute. He does, thus, see a move to Madrid with good eyes in every sense.
Real Madrid, for their part, have not ruled out his signing as was reported in recent months and there is even a chance they seriously pursue him in the winter transfer window as a mid-season fix.
The possible fee
The Spanish outlet also add that Zubimendi’s move to Real Madrid could be completed for a fee similar to what Arsenal paid for the player for his transfer from Real Sociedad – €70 million.
Mourinho’s insistence on making a new midfield signing is no secret, and with a clear target now in mind, the board could well back him with the player he wishes.
Notably, however, even Chelsea are seriously interested in his signing.
So far, Federico Valverde has been Real Madrid’s mainstay in midfield, and Aurelien Tchouameni’s return will change the team’s dynamics in the department.
Neither player, however, offers the control and distribution skill set that the team direly lack.
A big part of whether or not the club pushes for Zubimendi, however, will depend on how the Valverde-Tchouameni combination plays out in the coming months. It is, after all, the manager’s first-choice combination for big games.
