Real Madrid News
Real Madrid defensive outcast on the radars of Serie A champions – report
Real Madrid full-back Alvaro Odriozola is largely expected to leave the team this summer and if a report from Mundo Deportivo is to be believed, the 27-year-old’s next destination could be the Italian Serie A.
It has been reported before that Odriozola might return to Real Sociedad, where it all started for the right-back, but as it turns out, the 27-year-old has now attracted interest beyond the Spanish shores as well.
Who in Italy are interested?
As reported by Mundo Deportivo, Italian champions Napoli are looking to strengthen their defence and their search has brought them to Odriozola, an unwanted commodity at Real Madrid.
The Serie A giants are considering Odriozola’s experience of playing in Italy, having spent the 2021-22 season on loan at Fiorentina where he made27 appearances across all competitions, scoring a solitary goal.
Napoli manager Rudi Garcia is well aware of the 27-year-old’s past performances and he sees Odriozola as a decent candidate to strengthen the right-back spot.
As of now, while the interest continues to persist, they have not made the final decision yet.
Real Madrid want to sanction Odriozola’s exit
Odriozola’s current contract with Real Madrid runs until 2024 but the team from the capital city is intent on getting rid of the right-back before the new season starts.
The player, for his part, has accepted his fate and is currently evaluating all his options before making a decision.
Odriozola has not played for Real Madrid in either of their two pre-season friendly matches against AC Milan and Manchester United on their tour of the USA.
That he will be offloaded as part of Real Madrid’s transfer strategy is absolutely certain, but as of today, there are no bids, and neither an agreement is in place with any team.
In a major update, AS reports that former Real Madrid midfielder and club legend Toni Kroos has taken his first step towards starting his coaching career.
The former Germany international has told the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) that he is interested in joining the coaching course reserved for professional footballers.
Real Madrid tried to bring Kroos back
It is no secret that Real Madrid considered bringing Toni Kroos back into the club’s structure after the end of the last season.
The club president, Florentino Perez, had wanted Kroos to have a daily presence at Valdebebas rather than making occasional appearances after his retirement.
Jose Angel Sanchez and Kroos spoke after Perez expressed his desire to see the German working at Valdebebas every day. However, they did not find the right moment, time or structure to give his return a clear form.
A comeback remains one of the possibilities most desired by Madrid supporters because of Kroos’ charisma and what he represents at the Santiago Bernabeu. Neither side wanted him to return simply for the sake of it, so the door remains open for the future.
The relationship between the two parties is excellent, and both know that the opportunity to work together again will eventually come.
Taking it step by step
For now, Kroos continues to run the academy he established in Boadilla, enjoying the opportunity to help develop younger players.
After two years away from the competitive side of football, however, he is beginning to look towards the dugout as a possible next step in his career.
Kroos currently holds coaching qualifications that allow him to work up to the third tier of Spanish football.
This is possible because professionals with at least seven years of proven experience and significant involvement at the elite level can gain direct access to accelerated coaching courses.
That means Kroos could coach a team in Primera Federacion, but the German wants to take things gradually.
Kroos has already informed the RFEF that he would be interested in joining the coaching course reserved for professional footballers during the 2027/28 season.
The course taking place this season is not available to elite former players, with UEFA limiting each campaign to 20 places.
With his current qualifications, Kroos could work as an assistant coach, but he cannot yet take charge as a head coach in either the top flight or the Segunda División.
But completing that programme would allow Kroos to obtain the UEFA A licence, which would enable him to coach teams at any level.
