Real Madrid News
Real Madrid forward set to be given extra year on extension if he wins Ballon d’Or
Real Madrid have their work cut out during the remainder of the campaign. If the huge gap between them and league leaders Barcelona was not enough, the reigning Spanish champions also have to renew the contracts of several star players in the team.
One of the players is Karim Benzema, whose current contract at Santiago Bernabeu expires at the end of the season. The forward is yet to sign a new deal at the club despite winning the most recent Ballon d’Or.
Although not too many would expect the Frenchman to depart Santiago Bernabeu at the end of the season, Real Madrid have appeared quite slow in advancing negotiations.
However, according to MARCA, the Merengue are ready to offer a renewal to Benzema. The forward will be handed a one-year contract until 2024, which will include an option to extend for a further year if the attacker once again wins the Ballon d’Or in 2023.
Benzema made history at the end of last year when he became the first French player since Zinedine Zidane to win the coveted award. He was also the second player after Luka Modric to win the Ballon d’Or apart from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi since 2007.
However, the veteran forward has had difficulties with injuries this season, missing a chunk of the league matches. Although his performances have been quite impressive, his lack of participation has often forced coach Carlo Ancelotti to deploy Rodrygo in the number nine.
Nevertheless, Real Madrid are convinced of Benzema’s quality and his ability to sustain his performances at the top level for another year, if not two.
But it is worth mentioning that the Spanish giants are on the lookout for a new striker that can replace Benzema in the long run. They have earmarked Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus, but it will not come as a surprise to see the club approach other options in the market as well.
Real Madrid prospect Alexis Ciria will have to wait for his Champions League opportunity despite making a strong impression on Jose Mourinho during pre-season.
The Castilla winger has been left out of Real Madrid’s European squad, but the decision is the consequence of UEFA registration rules rather than a sporting judgment.
According to journalist Arancha Rodriguez (h/t Defensa Central), Ciria was not eligible for Madrid’s List B because he has not been with the club long enough to satisfy UEFA’s requirements.
Registering him would therefore have required Mourinho to include him on the more restrictive List A.
UEFA rules work against Ciria
List B provides clubs with additional flexibility to register young academy players, but being young enough is not sufficient on its own.
Players must also meet requirements concerning how long they have been eligible to represent the club.
Ciria does not meet those conditions because of his limited time at Valdebebas. Real Madrid would therefore have needed to sacrifice a List A position to register him.
With those places required for members of Mourinho’s senior squad, Ciria was ultimately left out.
Real Madrid’s List B instead includes youngsters such as Joan Martinez, Mario Rivas, Thiago Pitarch, Jorge Cestero and Daniel Yanez.
Many of these youngsters made a name for themselves under Mourinho during pre-season and could be used to make up the numbers in the Champions League squad.
They could also get some minutes off the bench, especially against relatively easier opposition, as Jose Mourinho looks to manage first-team minutes.
Mourinho still plans first-team opportunity
Importantly for Ciria, missing the Champions League squad does not appear to reflect a change in Mourinho’s opinion of him.
The youngster impressed during pre-season and is expected to continue spending time around the senior team.
Mourinho intends to give Ciria his official first-team debut during the season. That opportunity will now have to arrive in La Liga or the Copa del Rey.
The Portuguese tactician placed a lot of emphasis on trusting Castilla players during pre-season in the absence of first-team stars.
Ciria was one of the many names who made a name for themselves at Real Madrid during pre-season. He deserves a chance in the first team, and it remains to be seen how Jose plans his development.
