Real Madrid News
Real Madrid going on the offensive for €150 million priority target
Jude Bellingham is a man in demand in the transfer market, with several top clubs across Europe, including Real Madrid, gunning for his signature.
The Borussia Dortmund midfield sensation has become one of the best young talents in the game over the past couple of seasons and seems primed for a big move this summer.
The likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, and Chelsea are all in the running to sign the 19-year-old England star.
Real Madrid, for their part, have been on Bellingham’s tails for a long time now, but of late reports have suggested that they are balking at the midfielder’s €150 million price tag which could knock them out of the race.
However, according to a fresh report from Santi Aouna of Foot Mercato, Real Madrid are going on the offensive in their bid to sign Bellingham from Dortmund in the summer.
Indeed, the report states that Los Blancos’ head of recruitment, Juni Calafat, held a meeting with Bellingham’s father in a hotel in London earlier today in order to discuss the move and present the club’s project to the teenager’s entourage.
This development comes after the aforementioned outlet reported that Luka Modric’s future currently seems to be away from the Santiago Bernabeu.
With the future of Toni Kroos and Dani Ceballos also not sorted, Real Madrid will need to dive into the market for a new midfielder and Bellingham is the top target.
And they have now launched the offensive in their pursuit of the former Birmingham City starlet so that they can beat the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City in the race for the 19-year-old.
It will certainly be interesting to see whether the meeting between Calafat and the player’s father yields the desired result for the reigning champions of Spain and Europe.
Real Madrid News
Inter Milan boss Chivu praises Mourinho ahead of Real Madrid showdown: ‘A special person’
Inter Milan head coach Cristian Chivu has described Jose Mourinho as “a special person” ahead of Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League meeting with Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Romanian spent two seasons playing under Mourinho at Inter between 2008 and 2010, a period that culminated in the club winning the Champions League at the very same stadium in 2010.
A serial winner
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Chivu reflected warmly on his former manager.
“He’s a special person who I was lucky enough to meet in my life. He gave me important help during a difficult period of my life, and I’ll never forget that,” Chivu said, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.
Chivu also praised Mourinho’s ability to influence the teams he manages and instil his mentality in his players.
“He’s very good at immersing himself in the reality of the team he represents and transmitting his mentality. He’s a winner who knows how to communicate things at the right moment. Very few people know how to do that like he does,” he said.
“He has won everywhere he has been, and I’m sure Real Madrid will have a great season.”
Despite his admiration for Mourinho, Chivu insisted that the Portuguese has not served as a template for his own coaching career.
Asked whether he takes inspiration from his former manager, the Inter boss replied: “I’ve never copied anyone. I have my own idea of football, which has been built through my years as a player and as a coach.”
Chivu assesses Mourinho’s Real Madrid
Chivu believes it is still too early to draw firm conclusions about Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid.
“It’s still very early. It has been a fairly balanced start, although they lost their last match undeservedly because they played very well,” he said.
“They’re a team with a great history and a coach who knows how to do things.”
“Playing at the Bernabeu is not easy for anyone”
With Mourinho in the dugout and Chivu in defence, Inter defeated Bayern Munich in the 2010 Champions League final at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The now-Inter manager believes returning to the stadium where they lifted the trophy 16 years ago will provide a special occasion, although he knows the challenge facing his team.
“The stadium has been renovated and it’s even more beautiful. It has a great tradition and today it’s more beautiful and more modern. We like playing a Champions League match in this stadium,” he said.
“Playing at the Bernabeu is not easy for anyone. Inter haven’t won here for 60 years. We’ll do everything possible and we want to show that we’re competitive and that we have the desire to dominate.
“There’s no perfect way to play against Real Madrid because they have players who can make the difference regardless of the plan you have.”
Inter arrive in Madrid after recovering from a difficult game against Napoli, while Chivu prepares to face the coach who played such an important role in his career.
