Real Madrid News
Real Madrid have concerns about key star’s fitness, but Ancelotti, Perez trust him fully
After a hugely successful 2021/22 campaign during which he helped Real Madrid win the La Liga and UEFA Champions League trophies, Karim Benzema was expected to continue in the same vein of form this term as well.
The Real Madrid captain won his first-ever Ballon d’Or in 2022 giving further credence to claims that he was enjoying his best-ever run as a Real Madrid player.
However, the ongoing season has been a frustrating one for the Frenchman as he has constantly been bogged down by injuries and fitness woes.
Indeed, Benzema has missed more than ten matches this season already and is now a doubt for the upcoming game against RCD Espanyol due to discomfort.
According to a report from AS (h/t Madrid Xtra), Benzema has now suffered from discomfort on as many as eight occasions this season and it has led to concerns over his fitness at Real Madrid.
However, manager Carlo Ancelotti and club president Florentino Perez continue to trust the 35-year-old 100 percent and back him.
Ancelotti has never wavered in his faith in the French hitman despite his growing age.
In fact, only recently it was reported that the Italian tactician sees Benzema, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos as the backbone of this Real Madrid team even though they are in the final phase of their respective careers.
However, given the rising number of fitness issues, it would bode well for Real Madrid to bring in a new striker in the summer to provide cover and competition for Benzema for next season.
Alvaro Rodriguez has emerged as an option but is still lacking in experience at the highest level and it would thus make sense for Los Blancos to rope in a new No. 9 for next season.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid will offer a three-year deal to midfielder, but player wants assurances over role
Dani Ceballos is one of seven Real Madrid players who is set to become a free agent in the summer as his contract expires at the end of the season.
The 26-year-old has grown in prominence at the Santiago Bernabeu in the second half of the season and has insisted that he wishes to continue at the club beyond the current campaign. However, he is yet to be contacted by the club with an offer to renew him.
Now, though, Tomas Gonzalez-Martin is reporting that Real Madrid do indeed want to keep hold of Ceballos beyond the summer and are planning to offer him a three-year contract.
The Spanish international prioritises continuing at the Santiago Bernabeu and will happily sign a renewal as long as he is offered a more prominent role in the team.
Ceballos reportedly fears that he would be reduced to the role of a benchwarmer should Jude Bellingham arrive at Real Madrid in the summer, especially with the club likely to renew Toni Kroos and Luka Modric as well.
Hence, the 26-year-old wants to be assured about his role in the team before he commits his future to Real Madrid.
As for the offer itself, Los Blancos have not presented a formal proposal as of yet and will only do so at the end of the season.
It should give ample time for Ceballos to get proper clarity over his situation and make an informed decision on continuing at Real Madrid or looking at a new challenge elsewhere.
Should he decide to move on, it is believed that the former Real Betis ace has several offers from important clubs across Europe.
Pat Grey
March 8, 2023 at 10:23 pm
The reality is that Benzema’s days as a strong and sharp striker and goal scorer are now behind him. Perez and Ancelotti were too foolish and stubborn not to have since gotten a replacement striker all this time. It seems too late for this season as RM is unable to score the goals and win games this season. Too bad for shortsightedness by RM coach and President. Truth be told, both ageing guys need to be replaced now to make way for fresh leadership.