Real Madrid News
Real Madrid manager Mourinho furious as top midfield target agrees move to Barcelona
Real Madrid may have announced Yan Diomande today, but the club still have their work cut out in the transfer market.
One of the priorities was to sign a new defensive midfielder, as the midfield has clearly struggled without the presence of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
Rodri, to that end, had emerged as the ideal target for Los Blancos and the player was even reportedly ready to switch to Real Madrid.
However, recent reports indicate Rodri is now keen on joining Barcelona instead and has already agreed to join the Catalans this summer.
Jose Mourinho left furious
This entire ordeal has left Jose Mourinho furious, knowing that he might possibly miss out on signing Rodri this summer, reports Sergi Valentin.
The journalist points out that Mourinho is frustrated over Real Madrid have handled the situation, especially given that the deal was almost done.
Rodri was ready to join Real Madrid and wasn’t willing to entertain a move elsewhere. That was when Juni Calafat convinced Florentino Perez he can lower the fee for the midfielder.
But that backfired as Deco and Hansi Flick spoke to Rodri, who is now entertaining the idea of moving to Camp Nou.
Do Real Madrid still have a chance?
It is certain that Real Madrid have wasted the opportunity to seal the deal, there may still be a slim outside chance that the situation could be turned around.
Barcelona are keen on signing the Manchester City midfielder but acquiring his services could be complicated given the club’s financial situation.
Not to mention, the Catalans must prioritise signing Julian Alvarez before anyone else, as they are still yet to sign a replacement for Robert Lewandowski.
Keeping that in mind, Real Madrid have may have a slight opportunity to get back in the race to sign Rodri. But they will have to pay a higher premium for the Spaniard now that Barcelona are involved in the race.
All of this has left Mourinho frustrated and the Portuguese coach is strongly demanding the acquisition of a new holding midfielder, no matter what.
Real Madrid have an interesting selection dilemma at left-back, with Marc Cucurella and Alvaro Carreras competing for a starting spot under Jose Mourinho.
While Cucurella brings experience and an established reputation, Carreras is making an increasingly convincing case to become the team’s first-choice option.
The battle between the two Spaniards is particularly relevant given Madrid’s defensive difficulties so far this season.
Mourinho is searching for greater defensive stability and has an important choice to make between Cucurella and Carreras.
Carreras offers the defensive security Madrid need
One of Carreras’ biggest strengths is his ability to defend in one-v-one situations.
The 23-year-old generally looks comfortable against direct wingers, showing patience in his positioning and making it difficult for opponents to get past him.
That defensive reliability is particularly valuable in Mourinho’s system, where full-backs can find themselves isolated when Madrid lose possession.
Cucurella, meanwhile, has occasionally looked vulnerable against opponents attacking him directly, with space opening up for crosses from his side.
With Vinicius Junior usually playing ahead of him, the former Chelsea man does not get the defensive support he needs from his winger, leaving him isolated.
However, Carreras’ case is not built entirely on defending. He is also comfortable carrying possession forward, driving into space and helping Madrid progress down the left flank.
This makes him an attractive option for a team that has struggled to progress the ball up the pitch as consistently as they would have hoped.
Cucurella still offers qualities Mourinho values
Despite the growing case for Carreras, Cucurella should not be dismissed, and his reputation should not be forgotten.
His experience, aggressive pressing and willingness to engage opponents higher up the pitch can be useful when Madrid want to pin back the opposition.
He is also capable of moving into central areas to support possession, giving Mourinho different tactical possibilities.
However, Cucurella’s attacking contributions have not always been as influential as expected during these early weeks.
The Spaniard made a name for himself at Chelsea and with Spain by getting into attacking positions and creating chances for his teammates.
At Madrid, however, with the team looking to pass the ball quickly to runners like Vinicius and Mbappe, the best aspect of Cucurella’s game has not come to the fore.
This makes defensive solidity the primary requirement for Madrid’s left-back, and it is here that Carreras seems to have an advantage over Cucurella.
Carreras deserves an extended opportunity
At this stage, Carreras has a strong argument for becoming Madrid’s preferred left-back.
His defensive qualities appear particularly suited to the team’s immediate needs, while his ability to carry possession ensures Madrid would not sacrifice much attacking potential.
Instead of treating the left-back role as a game of musical chairs, Mourinho would be better off giving one of the two an extended run to make the position their own.
Competition for places is healthy as long as it does not breed insecurity, and at the moment, Carreras seems to be in better form than Cucurella.
It will not be easy to justify benching a summer investment, but Mourinho’s job is to make those difficult calls, and it remains to be seen how he approaches this decision.
