Real Madrid News
Real Madrid full-back back in training, four stars set to miss Real Sociedad encounter
Real Madrid will lock horns with one of the most in-form sides in Spain on Sunday when they play hosts to Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Heading into the game, Los Blancos have been handed a major fitness boost as Dani Carvajal is back in full training with the team, according to Guillermo Rai of The Athletic.
The veteran right-back has not played a single game for Real Madrid since the Spanish Super Cup final defeat to Barcelona in Saudi Arabia.
The Spaniard had been dealing with muscular discomfort and as a result, missed matches against Villarreal, Athletic Club, and Atletico Madrid.
While he was said to be a doubt for the Sociedad encounter as well, Carvajal has rejoined team training which could be a positive sign regarding his involvement in tomorrow’s match at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Along with Carvajal, Rodrygo Goes is also training normally with the team, after doubts had emerged over his availability due to a knock he picked up in the derby against Atletico Madrid earlier this week.
While the duo’s availability will be a boost, Real Madrid will have to make do without David Alaba, Aurelien Tchouameni, Lucas Vazquez and Ferland Mendy, all of whom missed the team training session and were doing individual work indoors.
Given the absence of both Alaba and Mendy, Real Madrid have no natural left-back at their disposal for the game.
Castilla youngster Rafa Obrador has been called up to training as a possible contingency, although Carlo Ancelotti is likely to go with either Nacho or Eduardo Camavinga as his starter.
Before he was hired by Bayern Munich as the direct replacement for Julian Nagelsmann, Thomas Tuchel was closely linked with a move to Real Madrid at the end of the season.
The German tactician had kept a close eye on the development at Santiago Bernabeu, especially with coach Carlo Ancelotti facing immense pressure following the club’s poor performances in domestic competitions.
A recent report from Jorge Picon has offered more details on the Tuchel saga, suggesting that the coach was even learning Spanish during his time at Ibiza, anticipating a potential move to Real Madrid at the end of the season.
There were even contacts made between Tuchel’s entourage and Real Madrid. Although the talks were positive, the two sides were not able to reach an agreement.
Real Madrid did not guarantee him the job. They had informed Tuchel that Ancelotti may continue at the Bernabeu in the event the club win the UEFA Champions League this season.
This bit of uncertainty played a critical role in convincing Tuchel to join Bayern Munich instead. The former Chelsea boss was hired as a direct replacement for Nagelsmann, who was sacked after a poor season in the Bundesliga by the club’s high standards.
However, Tuchel’s move to Bayern appears to be a missed opportunity on the German’s part, as Real Madrid have recently intensified their search for a new manager.
It is clear that the club’s hierarchy is yet to reach a consensus over the future of Ancelotti, with some believing that a change is necessary come the end of the season. In fact, the club’s president Florentino Perez has been an admirer of Tuchel’s compatriot Nagelsmann.
The coaching prodigy is one of the candidates to replace Ancelotti in the summer, though it is Mauricio Pochettion who is reportedly leading the race so far.
