Real Madrid News
Real Madrid had made contacts to sign 19-year-old wonderkid before Eredivisie move
According to French media outlet L’Equipe (h/t MARCA), Real Madrid had made enquiries into the situation of Xavi Simons with the hope of winning his signature.
The plan was to bring the former Barcelona and PSG prodigy into the Castilla setup and subsequently promote him to the senior team after he adapted. However, talks collapsed as the winger joined PSV Eindhoven.
Simons is a product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia and was touted as the academy’s next big player for a long time. Disagreements over his promotion and wages, however, broke ties between the player and the Catalan side, pioneering a move to Paris Saint-Germain instead.
Making the move to France at the young age of 16, big things were expected from the Dutch star. For PSG’s U-19 setup, he scored five goals in 12 UEFA Youth League appearances and earned a senior debut in 2020-21.
The teenager made six Ligue 1 appearances in the subsequent season but opted against renewing his deal in France. This led to a move to PSV in the Netherlands on a free transfer last summer.
Though his move to the Eredivisie is permanent, PSG have the option to buy him back for €12 million. Needless to say, any effort from Real Madrid to sign the player now would prove financially challenging.
Simons has played 24 league games for PSV this season, scoring 11 goals and providing five assists. To say that he is impressing at his new club would be an understatement.
Given that the player is just 19, one would expect him to return to Europe’s top five leagues soon in his career. It remains to be seen if Real Madrid are amongst the parties interested at such a juncture, especially given their new strategy of signing young and coming stars.
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.
