Real Madrid News
Real Madrid midfielder likely to renew for one more year – report
With the 2022/23 season set to enter its business end, teams will already have begun planning their squads for the next campaign. And, Real Madrid will have some important decisions to make over the coming months.
First off, there seems to be some major uncertainty surrounding the future of manager Carlo Ancelotti after the recent run of results in La Liga.
At the same time, Los Blancos also need to decide whether or not to renew the contracts of the players who will become free agents at the end of the season.
Toni Kroos is one such star whose deal stands to run out this summer. And, according to a report from Tomas Gonzalez-Martin, the 33-year-old midfielder is likely to sign a new contract for one more year.
Kroos has been at Real Madrid for nearly nine years now and has achieved everything he can at the Santiago Bernabeu. Despite his advancing age, the German midfielder continues to be an integral part of Carlo Ancelotti’s plans at the Spanish capital outfit.
Kroos has always maintained that he does not wish to play for another club and is keen on retiring at Real Madrid if he does not sign a new contract.
But, the 33-year-old midfielder had one condition to renew which is that he continues to remain a prominent part of the manager’s plans and not be reduced to a bit-part role.
With the chances of signing Jude Bellingham looking slimmer by the day, retaining the likes of Kroos and Luka Modric could become critical for Real Madrid.
And, if the aforementioned report is to be believed, Kroos is in line to sign a new extension for one more year, which would keep him at the club until the end of the 2023/24 season. Whether Modric also follows suit remains to be seen.
Real Madrid News
Real Madrid defender takes major step towards comeback; set for return after international break
Real Madrid are finally beginning to see a clear path back for Eder Militao, with the defender now in the final phase of his rehabilitation and increasingly expected to return after the next international break.
Militao has been sidelined since suffering a tear to the proximal biceps femoris tendon in his left leg during the meeting with Alaves last April.
The injury required surgery, but his recovery has now reached a stage where his return can be discussed in more concrete terms.
Militao steps up rehabilitation at Valdebebas
While Real Madrid completed their preparations for Tuesday night’s trip to Elche, Militao was working separately from the main group at the Valdebebas Training Centre.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the Brazilian defender carried out specific exercises with the club’s rehabilitation staff and physiotherapists on pitches 1 and 2.
The work represents another step in a recovery process that has kept him away from competitive action for several months.
Mind you, Militao will not be involved against Elche, but the latest signs are considerably more encouraging for what comes next.
Return now expected after international break
The timeline surrounding Militao’s comeback is finally becoming clearer. Provided his recovery continues at its current pace, Real Madrid expect the centre-back to be available to Mourinho once the international break is over.
That break is scheduled to take place from the end of September into the first week of October, meaning Militao could be back by mid-October at the latest.
For a defender who has endured another significant spell on the sidelines, simply having a defined target gives an important moment in his rehabilitation.
Real Madrid still missing players
Militao’s progress is particularly welcome because Real Madrid continue to deal with several absences in the squad.
On that note, Rodrygo and Ferland Mendy remain on the injury list and are not expected to return as quickly as Militao.
Both these players are therefore ruled out of the Elche fixture, leaving Mourinho without several established options.
Beyond Elche, though, Militao’s return offers Real Madrid something far more valuable: another experienced defensive option for the demanding weeks ahead.
After surgery and months of rehabilitation, the Brazilian is now entering the final stretch, and if there are no setbacks, Real Madrid could have their defender back in the squad around the middle of October.
