Real Madrid News
Real Madrid full-back could be out for a month with hamstring injury – report
Real Madrid booked their place in the semi-finals of the Copa Del Rey by beating Atletico Madrid 3-1 in a tense contest.
However, the win came with its own costs, as Ferland Mendy, the club’s primary option at left-back, had to be subbed off around the half-time mark. It looked like the Frenchman had picked up a hamstring injury, with Carlo Ancelotti bringing on Eduardo Camavinga to replace him.
Journalist Sergio Valentin has now confirmed Mendy’s injury, adding that the left-back could be out for a month.
This will serve as a major blow for Ancelotti, who now has two of his key main full-backs on either side out injured. Dani Carvajal is currently serving a muscle injury and has not played for Real Madrid in La Liga since the turn of the year.
In addition to first-choice options, Real Madrid also have their backup options at full-back out injured. On the right-hand side, Lucas Vazquez was ruled out on the sidelines earlier this year, whereas David Alaba, too, is nursing a muscle problem.
This leaves Ancelotti with very few options in the full-back department, with the Real Madrid coach notably being forced to deploy Camavinga at left-back against Atletico Madrid.
While the young midfielder did a rather good job in his new position, Mendy’s injury could bring up a conversation about bringing in a new left-back in this ongoing January transfer window.
Fran Garcia, in particular, has been a target for Real Madrid, who even have the option to re-sign him from Rayo Vallecano. There were talks of Real Madrid exercising the option and loaning him back to Real Valladolid, but it appears that the deal will be done only in the summer.
But it will be interesting to see whether Mendy’s injury can alter their thoughts and force them to bring back Garcia to Santiago Bernabeu this month.
Real Madrid News
€40 million midfielder prefers a move to Real Madrid over Premier League clubs – report
The race for Jude Bellingham has become tightly contested in recent weeks. Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United and Real Madrid all pursue the Borussia Dortmund star closely and hope to win his signing come June.
Given the heavy competition, it is natural that the clubs have alternative names on their tables. One such name on the radars of the aforementioned clubs is Celta Vigo’s Gabri Veiga.
The La Liga midfielder has offers from the Premier League for the summer. However, SER reports that the player has asked Real Madrid if they will match the offer from England and has displayed his interest in joining the club.
Veiga’s release clause with Celta Vigo is valued at €40 million. If the Merengues can match such a valuation, either through direct means or player exchanges, the young phenom will don white next season.
Real Madrid have followed Veiga’s profile for a while now and have made their interest in his signing known to his environment. Yet, the Spanish outlet also adds that Veiga’s potential arrival in June would not close the doors for Jude Bellingham’s signing.
Rafa Marin of Real Madrid Castilla is a player who interests Celta Vigo, and unsurprisingly is one of the names on Los Blancos’ table to utilise in a swap deal for Veiga. Yet, it is safe to say that talks of a player exchange are in a rudimentary stage.
The 20-year-old Spanish phenom has lit up La Liga this season. In 25 appearances for Celta Vigo this season, he has scored nine goals and provided three assists. He averages close to one key pass per game and has created five big chances in his league campaign.
With Los Blancos unwilling to let go of Bellingham’s pursuit irrespective of Veiga’s signing, the question will boil down to the financial leeway the Merengues have and whether they can afford to shell out €40 million in addition to the Englishman’s fee.
