Real Madrid News
Real Madrid have a five-year contract ready for Bellingham, agreement very close
The rumour mill in Spain has been flooded by speculations linking Jude Bellingham to a move to Real Madrid this summer. It appears the club have the approval of the player, who is ready to quit Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano (h/t Madrid Xtra) has offered an update on the saga, suggesting Real Madrid are now close to agreeing a deal with Bellingham. They are on the verge of signing a five-year contract that will see the player pen a deal until 2028.
The contract is ready, meaning Bellingham only needs to sign it before Real Madrid can announce the agreement. However, it is fair to point out that the Spanish giants must still reach an agreement with Borussia Dortmund over the transfer fees.
Dortmund are keen on getting the maximum price for their star midfielder, who is likely to cost in excess of €100 million.
Owing to the good relationship between the two clubs, a compromise may be possible. Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl, though, has outrightly refused to speak about Bellingham’s future in a recent interview.
Nevertheless, Real Madrid appear to be in pole position to secure a deal for Bellingham. Fabrizio Romano claims the Spanish giants want to finalise the deal in May, before the start of the summer transfer window.
A move is said to be closer than ever at this point and the Merengues will be aiming to finalise an agreement with Dortmund at the earliest.
Bellingham won’t be the only target for Los Blancos either, with the club also eyeing moves for a new right-back and a new forward.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid resolve their pitch problems as the Bernabeu surface returns to good condition
After years of problems with the pitch, Real Madrid now believe that those issues are now a thing of the past, reports MARCA.
For several seasons, the playing surface at the Santiago Bernabeu had become one of Real Madrid’s biggest headaches. Five pitch changes in a single season, paint used to disguise its poor appearance on television and criticism from all sides.
The club had been trying to solve the problem for some time and now, they believe they have finally found an answer.
The Bernabeu begins to put its turf problems behind it
The latest operation was accelerated following the NFL game between the Miami Dolphins and the Commanders, forcing the club to replace the playing surface in just 72 hours to meet the deadline last season. This time, however, there was an important difference.
After establishing that the underlying structure was in good condition, Real Madrid decided to retain the existing turf panels and hybrid stitching system rather than remove everything and start again.
The new grass was installed over the existing base after being cultivated for several months. The variety selected was RyeBlue Deportivo, a high-performance mixture consisting of 50% perennial ryegrass and 50% Poa pratensis.
Real Madrid hoped the combination would provide a definitive solution. The club’s groundskeeping team has since refined the maintenance process, and the results are encouraging.
The Bernabeu is now in a condition that satisfies the club, and there are no plans to make further changes to the playing surface during the season.
It is the outcome Real Madrid have been pursuing for years, following a situation that eventually concerned the players themselves.
Major concerts remain the Bernabeu’s outstanding challenge
While the pitch problem appears to have been brought under control, the return of major concerts remains the Bernabeu’s biggest unresolved issue.
Real Madrid have spent months working to address the noise problems that forced them to suspend large-scale concerts.
The work has included soundproofing improvements and other measures designed to prevent noise from escaping the stadium. However, there is still no confirmed date for the return of major events.
Real Madrid believe the work carried out has brought the stadium closer to an optimal level of sound insulation.
Several areas have been reinforced to reduce noise escaping outside, with particular attention paid to entrances, enclosures and other points through which sound waves could travel.
The structural soundproofing work is understood to be nearing completion, with final architectural finishing work and official sound-emission tests still outstanding.
In the meantime, Real Madrid are exploring ways to make a return to large-scale events more feasible.
The aim is to make full use of the improvements already completed and establish a model that allows the club to revive an activity that was one of the major commercial attractions of the renovated stadium.
Until that becomes possible, Real Madrid continue to explore other ways of generating revenue from the Bernabeu. Corporate events, award ceremonies, conferences and private celebrations remain among the alternatives.
For Real Madrid, resolving the pitch issue is a significant step forward. Restoring large-scale entertainment to the Bernabeu remains the next major objective.
