Real Madrid News
Real Madrid face rejection from 25-year-old Arsenal centre-back – report
Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo has made a massive revelation that after Eder Militao was injured, Real Madrid expressed interest in Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes.
But as it turns out, the Brazilian said no to the record European champions as he decided to stay loyal to the London-based team.
Los Blancos faced a massive setback on the opening day of the league as they found themselves without the services of Militao for a considerable amount of time.
The Brazil international picked up a serious knee injury against Athletic Club and it was later revealed that he had suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
The 25-year-old underwent knee surgery last week. Unfortunately, this injury casts a shadow over his season, rendering him unavailable for the majority of the campaign.
Real Madrid needed a replacement
Real Madrid’s initial idea was to rely on someone from the Castilla but initial deliberations forced them to think that signing a defender is actually a necessity.
The club management embarked on a quest to explore potential centre-back options in light of Militao’s absence.
Among the candidates in the centre-back position that garnered Real Madrid’s attention, and still continues to do so, was Gabriel.
The 25-year-old had a significant role as a consistent presence in Mikel Arteta’s lineup during the previous season, however, the ongoing season has seen him start matches from the substitute bench.
Reports from the English press shed light on Real Madrid’s genuine interest in recruiting Gabriel. The Brazilian’s skill set and potential to bolster the team’s defence made him an attractive prospect.
Gabriel said no
Despite this interest, it has been revealed that Gabriel has opted to remain loyal to Arsenal.
He turned down Real Madrid’s advances and also rejected an offer from Saudi Arabia that sought to secure his signature.
For Real Madrid, this outcome marks a temporary pause in their pursuit of defensive reinforcement, as they navigate the challenges posed by Militao’s absence.
As the season unfolds, the spotlight will remain on how the team adapts to this setback and how individuals step up to fill the void left by the injured defender.
Real Madrid News
Bellingham on his special assist in Girona 0-3 Real Madrid: “Been watching Luka every day”
Real Madrid usurped the top spot in the La Liga standings from arch-rivals FC Barcelona as they defeated Girona 3-0 away at Estadi Montilivi.
It was a fine performance from Carlo Ancelotti’s men against Michel’s side, with the returning Jude Bellingham leading the way for his team.
After being benched against Las Palmas in midweek, the England international returned to the starting XI today and turned in yet another Man of the Match display for Real Madrid.
It all started with Joselu opening the scoring just 15 minutes into the game, with Bellingham assisting the goal with a special, outside-of-the-boot pass from the left side, bringing back memories of Luka Modric doing something similar a few years ago.
Talking about that special pass, Bellingham said: “I’ve been watching Luka every day for months. I just want to be creative. It took the pressure off us at the start.”
On the match and the result, the 20-year-old stated that it was a good day across the board for Real Madrid, as he said: “It was an important win. They were doing very well. We made a statement of intent to La Liga. Three goals, a clean sheet….”
It has been a truly remarkable start to life at Real Madrid for Bellingham and expressing how he feels to play for the Merengues, he exclaimed:
“I feel very good. I have freedom of movement and I’m enjoying football. Whenever I put on this shirt I always try to do my best.”
Apart from assisting Joselu’s opener, Bellingham also got his name on the scoresheet in the second period. Talking about his goal, the wonderkid said:
“It wasn’t a very good finish. I could have scored some more, but the important thing is the victory.”
The strike meant that Bellingham now has seven goals and two assists across all competitions for Real Madrid. Reflecting on his brilliant start, he said:
“It’s a good start, not bad. I would like to continue on this path and I won’t always score or assist, but I will always give my best.”
Bellingham’s celebration has been a huge hit, with kids in school, players from other clubs, and many others mimicking it. When asked how his special celebration originated, he replied:
“I don’t know where I first celebrated. I think it was with Birmingham. It’s an inspiration to see kids doing it in schools. It’s a wonderful thing.”
Source: AS
