Real Madrid News
Real Madrid managerial candidate emerges as a target for Villarreal – reports
It did not take long into the new season for the first sacking of Europe’s top league to be announced. The season is long, but Quique Setien was the first to be axed by Villarreal, just four games into the new La Liga season.
Villarreal had lost three of their four games thus far and saw a change in management to be the best form of damage control.
The Yellow Submarines are now eyeing a new coach, and it appears they have their eyes on Madrid.
Is Raul on his way out?
According to reports from Mario Cortegana, Villarreal are interested in signing Real Madrid Castilla manager Raul Gonzalez.
Los Blancos are aware of the interest and await his decision, especially with reports suggesting that Raul is a candidate to succeed Carlo Ancelotti at the Bernabeu when he leaves.
The manager’s next step is unclear at this point. He is tempted by the offer because it is attractive and gives him the chance to work in the first division.
Moreover, Raul shares a strong relationship with Villarreal’s owner. He is currently thinking about leaving Castilla, and could well go down that road.
This is not the first time the Spanish tactician has received an offer from a top club. He has previously rejected offers from Eintracht Frankfurt, Leeds United, and Espanyol but sees this opportunity to be more tempting.
Sacrificing the big dream?
Carlo Ancelotti’s future at Real Madrid beyond this season is unclear. There are strong rumours of his appointment as the new manager of the Brazilian National Team with the CBF President even confirming the same.
If the Italian maestro opts to leave Real Madrid, the club administration see Raul Gonzalez as one of the top options to take over the reins of the first-team.
A departure to Villarreal midway through the ongoing season could thus crush any of Raul’s hopes of becoming the new Real Madrid manager.
After all, it would not sit well if he left his job at Villarreal next summer with less than a year at the club.
Aurelien Tchouameni has had an exciting start to his career at Real Madrid. Since joining the club for almost €80 million last summer, the young Frenchman has now become a pivotal figure in Real Madrid’s midfield unit.
However, prior to his move to Santiago Bernabeu, the midfielder was closely linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain.
In a recent interview, Tchouameni opened up on his links to PSG but revealed his decision to join Real Madrid.
Aurelien Tchouameni on PSG links
Talking about speculations linking him to PSG, Tchouameni said (h/t Madrid Zone), “PSG? Frankly, I thought about it. It’s a very big European club, we want the French clubs to succeed.”
“But honestly, when Real Madrid calls you, it’s very complicated to say no,” Tchouameni added.
The midfielder was linked with a move to PSG during his time at AS Monaco. Les Parisiens wanted to sign the youngster as part of their plans to reinforce the midfield unit.
Tchouameni, though, ended up opting for a move to Real Madrid, which turned out to be a prudent decision from the midfielder’s end.
Tchouameni’s career at Real Madrid
Aurelien Tchouameni made a total of 50 competitive appearances during his maiden season at Real Madrid.
Although the Frenchman was not entirely a first-team regular in Carlo Ancelotti’s setup, his stature in the team is expected to grow in the coming years.
Especially as Toni Kroos and Luka Modric move on at the end of the season, there is scope for Tchouameni to become a first-team regular in the Real Madrid midfield in the years to come.
The former AS Monaco starlet has already played a crucial role in the starting eleven so far this season and it is only going to continue as the season progresses.
