Real Madrid News
Real Madrid defensive prodigy says goodbye ahead of Serie A transfer
According to journalist Matteo Moretto, Real Madrid youth defender Victor Valdepenas is on the verge of completing a permanent move to Italian Serie A club Fiorentina.
The 19-year-old centre-back has officially said goodbye to his coaches and teammates at the club and is preparing to travel to Florence to finalise the transfer.
The agreement between the two clubs is fully completed, marking another departure from Madrid’s youth system this summer.
Done deal
The negotiations between Real Madrid and Fiorentina progressed quickly over the last few days, resulting in a total agreement.
Valdepenas, a highly regarded young defender who rose through the ranks at La Fabrica and made his first-team debut last season, decided that moving to Italy offered the quickest pathway to senior first-team football.
The young defender, who can play at centre-back and left-back, has already said his goodbyes at the Valdebebas training ground.
He is expected to land in Italy the coming days to undergo his routine medical examinations and sign a long-term contract with the Italian side.
Real Madrid continue youth sales
The sale of Valdepenas fits directly into Real Madrid’s broader club strategy for this summer transfer window.
In recent years, the Spanish club has placed a strong focus on generating substantial transfer revenue through the sale of academy players from La Fabrica.
With the first-team squad filled with established international stars, finding regular playing time at the Bernabeu has become incredibly difficult for academy players.
By selling promising young talents like Valdepenas to top-tier European clubs, Real Madrid can balance their financial books while usually retaining future benefits.
To protect their long-term interests, Real Madrid have structured the deal with Fiorentina, worth a total of €8 million, to include a 50% sell-on clause.
This clause ensures that Real Madrid will receive a significant percentage of any future transfer fee if Fiorentina choose to sell the young defender later in his career.
It is also likely that the agreement includes a fixed buy-back option, allowing Los Blancos the right to bring the centre-back back to Spain if his development accelerates in Serie A.
Real Madrid News
Zidane addresses impact of Real Madrid star’s absence after France vs Italy: ‘We cannot say’
Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane has taken over the France national team from Didier Deschamps and looks set to lead Les Bleus into their new era.
His team drew 1-1 with Italy last night, but Zidane refused to use Kylian Mbappe’s absence as an explanation for France’s 1-1 Nations League draw against Italy.
The Real Madrid forward missed Friday’s match at the Stade de France after suffering a left-knee hyperextension against Turkey last week.
Zidane refuses to make excuses
Speaking after the Italy draw, Zidane was asked whether Mbappe’s absence had affected his team.
As quoted by AS, he refused to get drawn into that narrative.
“Did Kylian Mbappe’s absence affect the team? We cannot say. He is not here; he is injured,” Zidane said.
It was a clear-cut response from the former Real Madrid coach, who understandably preferred to focus on the players available to him.
France certainly created opportunities without Mbappe. Michael Olise put them ahead against Italy, but Alessandro Bastoni equalised as Zidane’s side were held to a draw.
The France coach felt his team deserved more from the match and pointed towards their failure to capitalise on opportunities.
Madrid waiting for their superstar
For Real Madrid, however, the important issue is not how France cope without Mbappe. It is when he will be available again.
It was a freak injury for the Los Blancos star, who injured his knee while scoring the goal that gave France all three points.
It was initially feared that Mbappe had suffered a significant injury, but subsequent tests showed that he had managed to escape one.
Despite this, the Frenchman is still not back in training and was spotted in Paris, with no clarity on a potential return date.
Mbappe has become the focal point of Madrid’s attack, and with Villarreal awaiting immediately after the international break, there is little reason for either club or country to rush his recovery.
Even if he is not available for the game against the Yellow Submarine, it should not be long before Mbappe returns to action for Mourinho.
France and Zidane are discovering how to function without their captain. Madrid would rather not have to do the same without their talisman for long.
It remains to be seen how Mbappe’s recovery pans out and whether he is ready to go for Los Blancos after the international break.
