Real Madrid News
Real Madrid locker room content with Liverpool draw – report
According to Jose Luis Sanchez on El Chiringuito TV, the UEFA Champions League draw that pits Liverpool against Real Madrid in the Round of 16 has gone down well within the Merengues’ dressing room.
Having finished on top of Group F in the first round of the competition, the current holders of the Champions League title could have faced some tough ties against the likes of PSG, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Eintracht Frankfurt.
But what the draw threw was a rematch of the last season’s Champions League final as Real Madrid will again lock horns with Liverpool, after having beaten them in that main event.
Prior to that, Los Blancos had gotten the better of Jurgen Klopp’s side in the 2020/21 Champions League quarter-finals as well and in the finals of the 2017/18 finals.
Despite having come out on top in recent meetings, Real Madrid will be in for a stern challenge against Liverpool. But the report states that the dressing room has not gone down too badly in the dressing room.
It is claimed that the Real Madrid players see the tie as fair and are content with it.
The two teams will lock horns in late February in the first leg, which will take place at Anfield. The second leg of the Round of 16 contest will be played at the Santiago Bernabeu in early March.
Liverpool have not made the most ideal of starts to the ongoing campaign. But with the UCL tie still months away, they have plenty of time to turn things around.
Although Antonio Rudiger has had success since joining Real Madrid last summer, the club are in need of more depth and players that can form the backbone of the defensive unit in the years to come.
As part of their plans, Real Madrid are prioritising a move for Josko Gvardiol in the coming summer, reports 90 Min.
The outlet suggests Gvardiol will be one of the most wanted prospects in the market, with both Real Madrid and Manchester City eyeing a move for the Croatian international come the end of the season.
Formerly of Dinamo Zagreb, Gvardiol has enjoyed immense success since his move to the Bundesliga in 2021. He has impressed onlookers with his skill, organisation and discipline, which, coupled with his versatility, make him an appealing target for any European giant.
Gvardiol was also one of the top performers at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, helping Croatia finish third in the competition. His performances have not gone unnoticed, with Real Madrid among the clubs who have been keeping an eye on the defender for a while now.
However, signing Gvardiol will be a tricky task for Los Blancos. The player still has a long-term contract at Leipzig and could cost up to €85 million, as reported by 90 Min. Not to mention, the competition from Man City could be significant.
Real Madrid have no shortage of alternatives, though, with the club notably closely monitoring Portuguese defensive whizkid Antonio Silva, among others. So it will be interesting to see how the Spanish giants approach the market in this coming summer.
